Urban Play

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Start a movement

UrbanPlay is a movement that is partnering with Schools and Organizations across America to help fight childhood health issues by giving children the tools to make shape their own future/destiny/health.

Childhood obesity is rampant and out of control in the United States. X% of under 18s are considered Obese (a medial term that…) and their generation is the first generation in human history that is projected to have a shorter life expectancy of their parents generation. Obesity is the extreme, but the issues are actually far wide ranging than that. These children grow up facing health problems into later life like X & Y (diabetes and cardio vascular disease). Issues that kill X americans avery year and cost $bn in health costs. They’re growing up in a world where a cheeseburger is cheaper and more accessible than fresh fruit.

Childhood obesity is a tragic consequence of our modern society.

UrbanPlay is a movement to give children the tools to change this destiny. Through UrbanPlay’s programs, children engage in activities that help build confidence in their body’s abilities and also teach them how to take responsibility of their own health decisions. But what makes UrbanPlay unique is that at the core of it’s program, it’s program leaders inspire in the children a sense of ownership of these choices. It gives them practical ways in which they can make good health choices in a world where it’s often very hard to do.

Meet the Founders

Miwa Natsuki

Co-founder | MA Kinesiology

Miwa Natsuki, MA, began her career in the fitness industry in 2005 at UC Berkeley, when she was trained to become a Group Exercise instructor while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Since then, she has completed her graduate degree in Kinesiology, with a focus on education and behavior change, at Saint Mary’s College.

UrbanPlay was created based on her research during her graduate studies, her experience working with kids through various organizations and also many years of her experience working as personal trainer and health coach with the adult population. Furthermore, her passion to create UrbanPlay was fueled by her own transformation from being an overweight and sedentary kid.

Shane Barnard

Co-founder | JD

Shane Barnard, JD, is NASM, ACE and AFAA certified and the co-founder of UrbanPlay and founder of UrbanKick. Shane has over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry but it was her work as an attorney for children in foster care that brought her passion for fitness to the younger populations. She witnessed a growing health crisis among our youth and wanted to help by bringing education and movement to this under-served population.

She currently teaches at Crunch, Fitness SF and UC Berkeley where she is a health coach. Shane is a CEC provider for ACE and AFFA and honored ambassador for lululemon and Larabar.

To date, UrbanPlay has inspired hundreds of kids to start taking responsibility for their health

Some of the many schools, clubs and communities UrbanPlay has worked with.

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