29 October 2008 / Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy High School
They invited former television Gladiator, Jet - in real life psychotherapist and fitness trainer Diane Youdale - to inspire year nine and ten students.
The result was something of a revelation for many of them and they were left with a much greater understanding of how large a part a healthy lifestyle plays in success.
The session started with a talk from Jet to years nine and 10 about the direct link between activity and how it cements how we think, feel and therefore behave. She discussed the importance of food choices and how they affect feelings before moving on to a dance and fitness session for 50 year 10 girls.
"The girls were so much fun, so intelligent and so receptive," said Jet. "It's all very well getting up and having fun with a fitness session but sometimes I wonder about the educational value if that's all a session includes.
"As a psychotherapist I am interested in the mind so with this group I touched on the evolution of the brain to explain how we think - dealing with the difference between instinctive and reactive feelings and how to be thoughtful."
Dr Pragnia Gill, Head of Science and PSHE at the school said Jet's celebrity and excellent ability to engage the students had been a perfect way of demonstrating the importance of physical activity to overall fitness of the mind and body.
She said: "The girls particularly appreciated the talk. I think it was something of an epiphany for some of them because it came before the physical part of the session and so made much more sense. The physical session took on a whole new meaning and they all said how much they had enjoyed it."
"Combining the educational side with the physical side really helped us to understand the importance of how both work together. It was really good!" said Poppy Ellison.
"It was absolutely brilliant to see how what you eat links in with maintaining fitness and activity links to your mind and behaviour," said Tegan Williams.
Jet said she believed there are many schools that should follow Truro High's lead by putting far more emphasis on the holistic approach to healthy minds and bodies.
The result was something of a revelation for many of them and they were left with a much greater understanding of how large a part a healthy lifestyle plays in success.
The session started with a talk from Jet to years nine and 10 about the direct link between activity and how it cements how we think, feel and therefore behave. She discussed the importance of food choices and how they affect feelings before moving on to a dance and fitness session for 50 year 10 girls.
"The girls were so much fun, so intelligent and so receptive," said Jet. "It's all very well getting up and having fun with a fitness session but sometimes I wonder about the educational value if that's all a session includes.
"As a psychotherapist I am interested in the mind so with this group I touched on the evolution of the brain to explain how we think - dealing with the difference between instinctive and reactive feelings and how to be thoughtful."
Dr Pragnia Gill, Head of Science and PSHE at the school said Jet's celebrity and excellent ability to engage the students had been a perfect way of demonstrating the importance of physical activity to overall fitness of the mind and body.
She said: "The girls particularly appreciated the talk. I think it was something of an epiphany for some of them because it came before the physical part of the session and so made much more sense. The physical session took on a whole new meaning and they all said how much they had enjoyed it."
"Combining the educational side with the physical side really helped us to understand the importance of how both work together. It was really good!" said Poppy Ellison.
"It was absolutely brilliant to see how what you eat links in with maintaining fitness and activity links to your mind and behaviour," said Tegan Williams.
Jet said she believed there are many schools that should follow Truro High's lead by putting far more emphasis on the holistic approach to healthy minds and bodies.