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by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner
Add these five fitness experiences to your summer bucket list. Ready, set, go!
Hit the Fitness Floor
Regional Director of Personal Training RJ Pietrucha shares his summer exercise must. “Get on the stepmill,” he advises. The stepmill, and similar climbing machines, targets ankles, knees, and hips while simultaneously increasing leg and cardio endurance. This benefits all summer activities, from a day of shopping at an outdoor mall to a serious hike through nature.
If the stepmill is too intense, RJ recommends walking at an incline on the treadmill. As you advance, add stepmill time in small increments. Bonus: Leg work involves many muscles, which helps accelerate weight loss, too. Great for summer bucket lists that include fitting into your favorite swimsuit!
If you have specific activities or fitness goals planned for summer, share them with a personal trainer. They may suggest additional equipment to further train for your goals.
Take a Zumba® Class
Your summer may not include a trip to the islands, but you can Zumba® yourself there. Let the rhythm of Latin music and exotic moves transport you. Improve your cardio endurance during this total-body workout to be ready for whatever summer brings. Feel plenty tropical, without the jet lag, as you sweat your way through this fun class.
Group Fitness Manager Barbara Mascialino suggests celebrating the International Day of Yoga on June 21. Check the Group Fitness schedule to add a Yoga class to your routine. Escape via mat with this refreshing opportunity!
Be Able to Jump In
Summer is a season that celebrates water. At some point, you probably will enjoy time by a pool, lake, or beach. Swimming is a great fitness method, but it is a lifesaving skill first. Learn water-safety and swim basics from the Center’s certified swim instructors to enhance your summer water activities. Visit the Center pool where a lifeguard is always on duty. Often, instructors are present as well. Sign up for group or private swim lessons, available for all ages and skill levels.
The Center’s pool is always the right temperature, without the threat of sunburn. Become more familiar with the water through swim lessons, aquatic fitness classes, and personal training. (Some trainers are certified to train in the pool.) Be prepared and confident when summer takes you to the water. It will enhance enjoyment, increase relaxation, and provide options for quick water workouts to complement your fitness routine.
It’s true! You can work up a sweat in the pool. Barbara suggests trying a water workout this summer. Learn exercises you can take on vacation or to your neighborhood pool. Aqua High Fusion class is one of Barbara’s favorites.
Practice Pilates
For all your boogie-boarding, beach-cart-pushing, landscape-designing days of summer, you need a strong core. Pilates Coordinator Jackie Smiley-Edwards reminds us, “Pilates develops the strength and balance needed for ease of movement. This helps achieve the flexibility and functionality required for summer’s many demands.”
“Hit the mat and try the Pilates Fab 5,” suggests Pilates Coordinator Tracy Matino. These five exercises target every part of your core in under five minutes. The Fab 5 is great for busy summers, doable everywhere from the studio to the beach. Ask an instructor for a demo.
Do summer with less effort, more energy, and smoother abs. Jackie adds, “Pilates enhances muscle control, awareness, and range-of-motion.” Along with all other perks, you reduce the risk of wrenching your back when carrying vacation-bound suitcases. Pilates helps achieve summer bliss, even wearing a swimsuit.
Get Out There
Warm sunshine makes outdoor fitness easy. Take advantage by adding your own fun, yet challenging, activity to your summer bucket list. Perhaps you want to sign up for a 5K, learn golf, or take up cycling. Maybe you want to spend a long weekend hiking and fishing in the mountains. Pick a motivating climb to bring your fitness level and confidence to new heights.
Before you know it, ice will cover cars and walkways. Outdoor workouts will require things like snow skis, shovels, and lots of warm layers. Don’t look back with regret. The ocean water temp really is not that cold.
