Despite the fact that many Canadians would disagree with her, 18 year-old Shreya Chopra, believes there is no reason for inactivity. She explained, “I didn’t even know what snow was until I was eight years old but I still don’t think the weather should stop you from being active. Nothing should stop you if you really want to do it.”
Chopra is a grade 12 student at Campbell Collegiate in Regina, SK. She moved to Canada four years ago from the United States and before that she lived in New Delhi, India. For Chopra, physical activity was just a part of life growing up in India. “I don’t think there was a day that we didn’t go outside and play. There was always something to do whether it was badminton, cricket, cycling or different games in the street.”
This active lifestyle didn’t change much when Chopra and her family moved to the southern United States. There, she played lots of beach volleyball, went swimming often and even snuck into the neighbourhood fitness centre to run on the treadmill before she was old enough to have access. When asked where Chopra developed her love for physical activity her answer was simply, “I was always a hyper child.” The desire to be moving has fuelled Chopra’s habits since she was a little girl riding her tricycle around the house instead of walking, to today where she practices Taekwondo, plays badminton and tennis and enjoys cycling with her family.
Despite her active lifestyle, Chopra admits that it’s not always easy to choose physical activity over her other priorities. Chopra took four International Baccalaureate classes last year and she is taking three this year. She works at Canadian Tire on weekends and when she’s practicing Taekwondo she trains three times a week for two hours. Needless to say, Chopra understands what it’s like to have competing priorities. She says the stress of today’s life is one of the main reasons why many youth aren’t as active as they should be. “Youth have to deal with everything now: school, work, and the future. Everything is so competitive.”
Like many Saskatchewan students in grades 11 and 12 Chopra has found it difficult to participate in Physical Education “I know it’s not an excuse but Phys. Ed. just didn’t fit with my class schedule.” Chopra said she believes more students would take Physical Education if it was offered to all students in both first and second semesters.
During a time when Chopra found it particularly difficult to be active because of time constraints, she decided to try and get her exercise through short bouts of physical activity throughout the day. Chopra started doing 25 push-ups four times a day, every day. “I could hardly even do push-ups when I started but I knew I had to do something.” By finding a way to bring small amounts of physical activity into her day Chopra proved that, “Even if you don’t have much time, you can always find something to do.”
Shreya has one piece of advice to give to her fellow youth with regards to their lifestyles. She says, “Start getting your required amount of physical activity today because once habits are formed they last forever, and health is everything- if you don't have health, you can't conquer anything.”
Check out Shreya's action hero testimonial video.