Kids enjoy business visit

As the children entered, they were greeted with smiles and a warm welcome.

To celebrate National Physical Therapy month, Peak Performance employees invited students from Harrison Elementary, Lincoln Middle and Green River High schools to their facility.

Once the students arrived, owner Hayley Strauss, asked them to sit on the floor so they could talk about what they were going to do during the visit.

Two visits were scheduled, one for the older students and the other for younger.

Strauss asked both groups of students if any of them knew what physical therapy was. The younger group didn't respond, but the older group said physical therapy helps people.

"People come here if they are hurt and we help them feel better," Strauss said.

She said they can also help people with their balance and strengthen weak areas, such as shoulders or ankles.

Before the children made their way through various activity stations, Strauss had them warm up their muscles through stretches and jumping jacks. They also ran in place for about 30 seconds. Each group was divided into small groups of two to four students to go through the various stations, including limbo, hula hoop, yoga, gallop run, balance course and sensory area.

Some of the children were timid at first, but once they learned how to complete the activity, they were laughing and having a good time. The hula hoops were used to get the children moving. Instead of using the hula hoops in the traditional way, the students were asked to jump into one and then raise their hands up in the air like a tree as the hula hoop was raised over them.

In the gallop run, students used a pool noodle like a horse and galloped down to a box filled with ribbon. They would grab one ribbon and gallop back to the start line. In the balance course, students jumped on a mini trampoline and then moved onto two half dome balls to practice their balance. The also visited a sensory station where students could touch items that were warm and cold.

After the groups were done with the obstacle courses, they gathered for a quick group photo and left with snacks.