The annual holiday blizzard has hit, complete with last-minute shopping trips, baking extravaganzas, parties, parties, and more parties. How about giving yourself the gift of stress relief and letting your workouts at Midtown be the calm in your storm? Here are all the details you need to know about the remaining holiday events at the club.
An Opportunity to Give Back
Help someone stay warm this season by decorating our Holiday Mitten Tree. This month, Midtown is collecting donations of new mittens/gloves, hats, and scarves for West Suburban PADS to distribute to those in need in our community. Both children’s and adults’ sizes are needed, so let’s make it as full and colorful as possible! Thank you in advance for your support of this great cause.
Club Hours
Saturday, December 31: Holiday Hours 7:00AM – 1:00PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Sunday, January 1: Holiday Hours 7:00AM – 1:00PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Class Schedule
Saturday, December 31:
Sunday, January 1:
And in case you didn’t have a chance to join us on Christmas Eve, here is a quick recap of some of our special holiday classes:
Wishing all Midtown members and friends a joyous holiday season, and a happy and healthy 2012. How are you going to make this your best year yet?
You wrote it, we read it, and now we’re sharing it! Last month, Midtown group fitness instructor Frank Ringhofer led a promotion encouraging members to share stories about how group exercise has helped you reach your fitness goals. Sure, we could just recap the research reports that tell us that group exercise adds accountability, structure, and fun to a workout routine, but we thought our own participants are really the best authority on the subject.
So here are your Top 5 Reasons Why It Really is “Better in Groups!”
You Sweat No one said it better than Joyce, “When I first joined the club, I did not perspire…now I am a virtual faucet.”Group exercise classes provide new physical challenges that help participants get outside their comfort zone. Instructors constantly bring you new ways to train your cardiorespiratory and muscular systems, so that you won’t get stuck in a rut. According to Pat, “I don’t get nearly as good of a workout running or on an elliptical as I do in Spin class.”
You Make Gym Buddies If you know the chest track in Group Power is about to make your arms burn like never before, it’s much easier to go for it with friends by your side. Group exercise classes provide a way to connect with others who will encourage and support you en route to reaching your fitness goals. As one of our members said, friends help you “endure and progress.” You also told us that many class-formed friendships even go beyond the walls of Midtown. How great is that?
You Add Variety to Your Routine Many members mentioned the appeal of the variety within and between classes at Midtown. From Yoga, Pilates, and Qi Gong, to Group Active, Group Power, Group Kick, and Group Step, to Cycle, and of course Zumba(!), there is really something for everyone regardless of your fitness level, or even your mood on any particular day. Instructors are consistently changing and adapting classes by providing new music, new moves, and new motivation, which brings us to our next benefit…
You Get Inspired and Motivated, and Have Fun We were so pleased to hear from many of you that our instructors are going above and beyond to respond to and meet your needs. Our number one goal is to provide safe and effective fitness classes, and getting you excited to come back for more is the ultimate bonus! According to Sally, “Caring instructors who are willing to share modifications that make things doable for ME are what keep me coming back.” Please continue to provide us with your feedback, so that we can continue to exceed your expectations.
You Can Take Your Fitness to a New Level Perhaps the best thing we learned from reading your stories is that group classes have helped you make some incredible changes in your lives. You have improved multiple aspects of fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength/endurance, and flexibility. Many of you have also achieved significant weight loss, and are feeling healthier than ever. While we could sit here and take the credit for your success, we instead offer our congratulations to you for putting in the effort and making it happen. You are the inspiration for why we teach!
If you haven’t tried group exercise yet, I want to leave you with one last thought from Deborah, who submitted our winning entry: “This is the first time in my life that I have kept a fitness habit going for as long as I have. I don’t plan to ever go back to my former non-fit self. Try it. You’ll get hooked!”
Thank you, Deborah, for your inspiring words, and thanks to all who participated in sharing your stories with us.
You have nothing to lose (except maybe a few pounds), so get started with group exercise today!
What class are you going to try this week?
Although Thanksgiving menus have changed over the years, turkey and pumpkin have been standard fare since the first feast at
Plymouth Colony. As much as we enjoy these tasty items and their accompaniments, we fret over the amount of calories consumed during these last weeks of the calendar year.
Worry no more! Midtown has developed a plan to help you stay fit and trim; all you have to do is be willing to move. Here are all the details you need to know about the upcoming holiday schedule at the club.
Club Hours
Wednesday, November 23: Regular Hours 5:30AM – 10:30PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 1:00PM and 3:30PM – 8:30PM
Thursday, November 24: Holiday Hours 7:00AM – 1:00PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Friday, November 25: Regular Hours 5:30AM – 9:30PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 1:00PM and 4:00PM – 7:00PM
Class Schedule
Wednesday, November 23:
Thursday, November 24:
Friday, November 25:
How do you decide which class(es) to take? It depends on what you need. If the start of the holiday season has already sent your stress level skyrocketing, a Yoga or Qi Gong class may be your best bet. On the other hand, if you are feeling energized and ready to sweat out the incoming calories, Cycle, Zumba, Group Power, or Cross Train might be right up your alley. Try out BalletFit for the best of both worlds!
For the newbies, here are a few more details on a couple of our special classes.
Kidtown Festivities
Wednesday, November 23, and Thursday, November 24: Sign up your kids for Turkey Day fun in Kidtown where they’ll make their own Thanksgiving placemat or pinecone turkey. They’ll also enjoy some classic holiday favorites like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “Garfield’s Thanksgiving Special.” Reservations required.
How do you plan to get active this Thanksgiving? Family Turkey Bowl Football anyone?
