This year, in addition to our Live Your Vision Pavilion, we’ve added two new exciting experiences to the Healthy Sight Village. For adults, athletes and spectators, an engaging lesson about physical fitness and the different types of eyewear available is a must do in the Nike/VSP Competitive Advantage tent. For children, the place to visit is the LensCrafters Kids’ Zone.
The Competitive Advantage Tent
The Competitive Advantage tent allows guests to experience the latest in cutting edge eyewear technology and actively participate in demonstrations that will help them learn how to improve their game on the course, as well as the quality of their overall health and vision.
Guests who visit the Competitive Advantage tent will get a special sneak peak at some of the newest lenses set to hit the market and using a series of lasers and targets, a visual demonstration on how these lenses offer athletes a competitive advantage by maximizing peripheral vision.
There’s much more to a great game than choosing the righteyewear, there’s also physical health. Kinesiologist and golf fitness specialist Tyler Parsons can also be found at the tent giving advice to everyone from casual spectators to expert players. Tyler has worked with big names in the industry on the importance of physical fitness and regular stretching prior to sports performance.
Parsons will test your range of motion, flexibility and stability, all of which, if not kept up to par, can lead to a loss of power in your swing. He looks for ample separation of hips and shoulders as well as positioning of your thighs at a 90 degree angle, perpendicular to the torso.
While people often see golf as a laid-back and casual leisure activity, Parsons insists “golf is a very powerful sport”, noting that clubs are being swung at a rate of 120 miles per hour in less than 8 seconds.
From a putting stand point, Parsons will examine your eye position, club alignment, and stroke in order to correct any visual handicaps you may have. If your eyes are focused behind the ball, it will result in a stroke that shifts to the right. Conversely, if your eyes are in front of the ball your putt will tend to shift to the left. The ideal position is over the ball in the center.
QUICK TIP: Learn from swing coach Matt Killen how to position your eyes over the ball:
Don’t stress if your golf game is not quite where you would like it to be. After Parsons diagnoses your weaknesses, he will suggest remedies to fit your specific needs. However, change does not come overnight, it usually takes about 90 days of regular exercise and stretching for your body to adapt to a new regimen. Useful tips for everybody to take home include strengthening the muscles above and below injury prone areas, such as the ACL to help avoid serious, but preventable injuries and never doubt the importance of regular stretching.
LensCrafters Kids’ ZoneCHECK OUT THE KIDS’ ZONE VIDEO:The LensCrafters Kids’ Zone in the Healthy Sight Village has turned out to be a big hit with both children and parents alike. In this area, children are given the opportunity to receive a free eye screening and enjoy a variety of fun activities. While one in four children has a vision condition that is undetected, LensCrafters has made sure these children are no longer being overlooked. So far, eye exams have been administered to over 600 children over the course of the last 5 days.
While at the Kids’ Zone, the children can enjoy putt-putt golf, play golf on Nintendo Wii, have their faces and bodies painted by a professional artist, take a ride in some really cool Power Wheels trucks and look like a pro, with a picture of themselves “photo-shopped” onto the Copperhead course to take home. The LensCrafters Kids’ Zone is truly a child’s oasis!
When the children enter the Kids’ Zone, they are given an eye screening. The results of these screenings are sent to the parents of the children or to the teachers who will then distribute them. Those children who do not pass the eye screening are given eye exam vouchers, allowing them to visit any LensCrafters location and receive a thorough eye examination by one of their eye care professionals.
Education for parents and teachers about the need for proper eyecare and eyewear is just as important as the eye screenings in the LensCrafters Kids’ Zone.
Once the children have had their eyes screened, they are free to enjoy the activities throughout the Kids’ Zone. As I walked in the tent, I saw children huddled around the plasma flat screens waiting for their turn – the Nintendo Wii game systems were a great success. Another crowd pleaser was the Power Wheels trucks. The line to ride them was wrapped around the tent. It was clear that they were having such a great time and did not know what to do next! However, each child made sure that he or she stopped at each area. It was so cute to watch them walking around with their faces painted and showing each other the picture of themselves on the Copperhead course
The LensCrafters Kids’ Zone is all about education with the goal of also making the children smile and enjoy all of the fun entertainment and activities!
