This past Saturday was National Health and Fitness Day in Canada and local Grade 4 and 5 students from St Mary School got active.

Teacher Lee Smith brought in Rise Above Fitness to put the class through a physical gauntlet of push ups, burpees, sprints and a number of other activities in the school yard.

"With kids, they're sponges with information and I think with fitness and nutrition, there isn't enough emphasis in schools these days," explained Smith when asked about the program. "

Sarah Clarke is co-owner of Rise Above Fitness and shares the belief that getting the information out there is important for future development.

"It's important to be able to manage your body and it's also to educate the students about all the different things that your body can do and to be more confident and life long movers."