ASICS celebrates Global Running Month with families

In celebration of Global Running Month, ASICS has launched an uplifting regional initiative featuring the youngest exercise ambassadors in South-East Asia — the ASICS ‘Little Reminders’. Adapted from a successful campaign in Europe, this unique initiative spotlights a group of seven- to nine-year-old children whose mission is to remind adults that exercise should be about feeling good, not looking a certain way.

Children naturally run, jump, and play with unfiltered joy. However, as adults, the purpose of exercise often shifts toward calorie counts, appearance goals, or achieving personal bests — sometimes at the cost of mental well-being. ASICS aims to reverse this mindset with their ‘Little Reminders’ team by returning the focus to the mental uplift exercise can bring.

“Kids move simply because it feels good — no pressure, no goals, just joy,” said Yogesh Gandhi, Managing Director of ASICS Asia. “What should be a mood booster can often end up adding stress. At ASICS, we believe it’s time to bring the joy back.”

First-ever exercise guide for adults

To reinforce their message, the ASICS ‘Little Reminders’ have released the first children-created exercise guide aimed at adults. Designed with fun, movement, and spontaneity in mind, the guide encourages grown-ups to rediscover the pleasure of movement without the baggage of metrics or expectations.

As part of the campaign, these young influencers are also taking over social media accounts of leading fitness personalities, challenging traditional portrayals of exercise and injecting a dose of playfulness into workout routines.

“Our name stands for Anima Sana in Corpore Sano — a sound mind in a sound body — and that’s what movement should support,” added Gandhi. “With the Little Reminder campaign, we’re letting kids do what they do best: remind us that moving for the joy of it is more than enough.”

A celebration of movement

Bringing this message to life in Malaysia, ASICS hosted a family-friendly event at Kuala Lumpur’s Perdana Botanical Garden on 29 June 2025. The event welcomed families, children, and runners for a joyful Sunday morning of fun movement and bonding.

Participants were introduced to the children’s workout guide and took part in a specially curated ‘Little Reminders Workout’ session. The event culminated in a 3km Fun Run, where participants jogged, skipped, and laughed their way along the trail — not for personal bests, but for the sheer joy of movement.

“At ASICS Malaysia, we believe that movement should be driven by joy, not pressure,” said Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager of ASICS Malaysia. “Watching families and children rediscover the simple pleasure of exercise has been truly inspiring, reminding us that fitness is about feeling good, not just looking good.”

Parents inspired by the playful spirit

Among the many who found the event transformational was former national cyclist and mother of a three-year-old, Adilla Noraidillina Adilla J. Sam. She shared how the Little Reminders approach shifted her perspective on exercise.

“The Little Reminders Workout completely changed how my child and I approach exercise. Instead of focusing on technique or goals, it encouraged us to move with ease and excitement, just like kids naturally do,” said Adilla. “My child had a blast with the fun activities, and I realised that when I let go of expectations, I enjoyed working out more too. This experience truly reflected what it means to have a Sound Mind and a Sound Body.”

ASICS continues to champion mental well-being through movement, and invites Malaysians to explore more joyful ways to stay active. Adults can access the Little Reminders Workout Guide at ASICS Singapore’s campaign page or become part of the OneASICS membership program at ASICS Malaysia for more uplifting workout ideas.