Hyde Park event focuses on kids' fitness

A mother of three is bringing yoga, dance and nutritious snacks to Hyde Park Village on Saturday to promote healthy lifestyles for families.

Marisa Langford created Fit Kids Playground last year, a free event that brings together retail shops and exercise classes as a disc jockey spins Baby Loves Disco dance music. It's back this weekend, and the reason is simple.

"Parents are very concerned about teaching their kids about health and wellness," Langford said.

Officially, Fit Kids starts at 9 a.m. and runs until noon, but you can come at 8 a.m. for free family yoga with Yogani and breakfast from Sweet Tomatoes. Yogani will offer more yoga throughout the morning from the main stage, or families can choose from other sessions, including Zumba, fitness and games.

Carrie Scheiner, a Tampa resident who founded Exploramania, will demonstrate moves from her videos that combine exercise and math.

A free bounce house will be set up, vendors will offer healthy food samples and local businesses, nutrition and wellness organizations will have information about their programs. The event ties into efforts to reduce childhood obesity that have received national attention, such as First Lady Michelle Obama's nutrition and physical fitness campaign and chef Jamie Oliver's efforts to improve school lunches.

Langford worked in advertising and marketing before deciding to stay home with her children. After attending a health and fitness fair for women, she started thinking about how useful something similar would be for children.

She contacted local businesses that offered children's products or promoted healthy lifestyles, and the first Fit Kids Playground was born. More than 1,000 people attended.

"It was amazing," Langford said. "Everyone took to it immediately."

Langford had her third child that August and now is ready for another Fit Kids event. Though everyone is welcome, she is targeting families with children elementary school-aged and younger, knowing that older children often have sports and other activities scheduled on the weekends.

"I truly believe that it's something the community needs to gather around," Langford said.