If you enjoyed the Turkey-Busting Boot Camp to work off those Thanksgiving indulgences, then make sure you sign up for the Just for the Heart of It Boot Camp taking place at 9am on Saturday, February 18th.
Guaranteed to get your heart pumping and the blood flowing, this Boot Camp in honor of National Heart Month will benefit the American Stroke Foundation. Your $5.00 donation will help the foundation empower stroke survivors and their families to overcome ongoing challenges of life after stroke and rejuvenate their lives.
The format will include four stations run by our honorary drill sergeants for the day! Stations will include:
Event Times:
9:15-9:30am
9:35-9:50am
9:55-10:10am
10:15-10:30am
10:35-10:50am (All Stretch)
Be sure to check out the O’Aces Café after the Boot Camp for a post-workout special to reward yourself (healthfully, of course!) for all your hard work!
So, even though this winter hasn’t been too cold, this camp will still be a fun way to work off those winter blues!
Members and guests are welcome to sign up at the front desk or call 913-491-4116.
Will we see you on Saturday?
Front desk associate 
Shari Hockenbery is a tennis player. Tennis runs in Shari’s blood. She’s taught at John Newcombe tennis camps and more recently on a USTA team that competed at Nationals.
But there is more to Shari than tennis.
Shari has become an avid runner.
I recently sat down with Shari to learn what inspired her move off the courts and onto the pavement.
Marichi: Why did you take up running?
Shari: Running is therapy for my soul, my alone time, my break from reality. It’s also great endurance training for tennis. I also have a weight-training class with personal trainer Dylan and the girls, which is great for leg and core strength. It’s a win-win for heart health, physical health, and overall conditioning too.
Yes, I’m a better tennis player because of all the cross-training. But you know what? Running is great for emotional health, too.
Marichi: How are the two sports different for you?
Shari: Unlike tennis, which is a roller coaster of joy and frustration, there is no “loser” in running. Life for me right now is like the 16th mile of the New York City Marathon (my favorite race of all time): one mile straight uphill on the Queensboro Bridge! Since the year 2000, I’ve run three full marathons, 14 half-marathons, and countless shorter races. Not one time, in any of those races, did running ever fail to lift my spirits.
Marichi: Which particular race has been your most memorable so far?
Shari: I doubt that any race can beat the perfection of the NYC Marathon for me. I ran it surrounded by some of my best friends, on my 50th birthday, celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary, and both my boys were there to watch the race and hug me at the finish. Some things you just can’t top!
Marichi: What’s next for you?
Shari: I’m looking forward to another year of running. The Ragnar Relay in Key West is this weekend, and the Lincoln Marathon in May. I keep hoping that I’ll get to the top of that uphill climb and not only be a better athlete but also a better person, too.
Thanks, Shari! Good luck this weekend.
New to exercise? A seasoned fitness enthusiast? The new year is almost upon us, and there are plenty of ways your Midtown membership can contribute to a revitalized fitness routine.
New Equipment
Our fitness floor has recently received FreeMotion weights, specifically their top-of-the-line product,“The Epic.” The club now has 20 Keiser Bikes (for cycling classes) in the Cycle Studio, and a new Techno Gym in the function room. If you haven’t checked out this state-of-the-art equipment, please contact one of our personal trainers. They would be happy to take you through an orientation.
New Classes
For the group ex enthusiast, why not try something new? In addition to Yoga, Body Pump, and Zumba, we have Total Body Conditioning, Step, Cardio & Strength Conditioning, mat Pilates and Kickboxing. We have also introduced a Boot Camp in response to our members who enjoyed our “one off” group ex bootcamp over Thanksgiving.
Boot Camp takes places on Thursday nights at 5:30pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00am in the Group Ex room. You can expect a high-intensity, total-body workout. Most of the class will be without weights, using your body for pushups, lunges, squats, plyometrics and core work. We’d love to see you there. The more the merrier!
Crossing over from tennis to fitness? Slayton offers a tennis fitness class that combines the challenges of TRX and the tennis-specific footwork. This class not only improves your core strength, but also looks at balance and weight transference to help court mobility.
“New to You” Classes
Want to add some time in our pool? If you don’t like lane swimming how about trying our Aqua Fit class on Wednesday nights? You can bring the kids to the pool during family swim times on Fridays and Sundays. Our heated pool will be just the place to escape our winters and remind us of the summer that is coming.
Are you a fitness person wanting to try tennis? We have a cardio tennis class just for you. Jump Start Cardio is an intro-level tennis cardio class to get you moving to music on the tennis court! Once you start, you will be hooked and ready for either Cardio Tennis or Game Building Cardio Tennis. Both are set to music. Cardio Tennis uses transition balls and Game Building will use yellow balls. Did you know an average female will burn 400 – 600 calories per hour and a male 600 – 800 calories per hour? These are both great workouts!
The New Year is a time when many of us make resolutions about our overall fitness and wellbeing but, let’s face it, often times these fall by the wayside by the end of January! Trying something new is a good way to maintain the interest and keep going with your resolutions!
Please try one of our new classes and Happy New Year!
The holiday season can be a time of great joy, but also of great stress. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, and a general sense of busyness permeates our lives.
Yoga is a great form of exercise for stress relief, a way to center ourselves, and to become more mindful of the true meaning of the holidays celebrated this time of year.
Marlene, yoga instructor at Midtown Overland Park, recommends the following five yoga poses for stress relief:
1. Triangle
Feet: a wide stance and parallel, right foot should be at 90 degrees and left foot slightly facing in.
Arms: place your right hand on your shin or if you can all the way to the floor and extend your left arm up bringing your arms to a “T” shape.
Breath: Take 5 deep breaths. Come up slowly and repeat on the other side. To finish bring your feet parallel.
2. Side Angle
Feet: face your right foot out and face your left foot in. Bend your right knee until it is just over your right ankle. Check to see if your right thigh is parallel to the floor.
Arms: Place your right arm down by your ankle, and reach your left arm by your left ear to create a long line of energy from your left heel through to your left fingers.
Breath: take 5 breaths, come up slowly and repeat on the left side.
3. Half Moon
Feet:with your right foot turned toward the right, bend your right knee and place your right hand in front of your right pinky toe. Lift your left leg and extend both legs.
Arms: lift your left arm up bringing them to a “T” shape.
Core: engage your core and legs. Energy should flow from the center to your fingers and toes.
Breath: 5 breaths and come up slowly and repeat on the left side.
4. Tree
Feet: lift your left foot to your right ankle, knee or inner thigh.
Arms: start with your palms together near your heart. Once you are steady, lift them above your head.
Core: engage your core and lengthen from your fingers down through your tail bone.
Breath: 5 breaths and repeat on the other side
5. Head of the Knee
Feet: sit on the floor with your legs extended. Bend your right knee into your left thigh.
Arms: inhale and extend your arms up, exhale and fold forward keeping your hips grounded.
Breath: take 5 breaths and inhale as you come up. Repeat on the left side.
What’s your favorite stress-busting yoga pose?
We have a world record holder in powerlifting amongst us.
Herb Strange has been lifting for 60 years and has set both national and world records in bench press for his age group (75-79). No stranger on the fitness floor, you can find Herb training at the club for the World Championships in Las Vegas at the beginning of December. Herb is an inspiration, and is one of a core group of power lifters at Midtown.
So what is powerlifting? Is there a difference between powerlifting and weight training? Personal trainer (and dedicated powerlifter) Dylan Briggs has the answers.
Powerlifting involves lifting weights in three attempts: in a squat, in a bench press, and in a dead lift. Competitors can lift raw or equipped (that is, with or without certain supportive equipment).
It doesn’t really differ from weight training or weight lifting. The differences lie in the way the lifter trains. For example, body builders will focus on more reps, lighter weight, and higher volume, and powerlifters will focus on lower reps, heavier weight, and less volume.
Because each person is a little different and has a different approach to what works in training, Dylan suggests that a newcomer to lifting begins with a 3-day-a-week program focusing on the 3 main lifts.
“As with any sport proper technique is crucial, so make sure you practice and have someone knowledgeable critiquing you on form, hand placement, foot placement, etc. because those things will make the difference between a good lift and a bad lift,” says Dylan.
In October, Dylan along with members Liz Cline and Joyce Lynn competed at the Central States Fall Classic Powerlifting competition. In their respective age groups, both Dylan and Liz set state records whilst Joyce set an American record! Well done, all.
Dylan and Liz - October 2011
Who are these lifters?
Liz is a speech-language pathologist who has been a member at Midtown since it opened, and that’s where she met Herb. She played tennis at Fort Hays State University where she started weight lifting. In the past she has done figure competitions. Now she enjoys cycle classes.
Herb and Joyce at her first competition
Joyce also joined Midtown when it opened the athletic side, where she too met Herb. A year ago she started working with Herb and despite breaking her wrist last winter she was still able to compete and set her record!
“The best thing about any competition like this is that it’s just you and the weight and no one else,” says Dylan. “You either lift it or you fail, plain and simple. When you fail you just dig deeper and train harder to overcome it.”
Have you tried powerlifting? Tell us what you think of it!
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy good company, great meals, and generally relax for a few days.
However, lots of food and relaxation are not particularly conducive to working out and staying fit! So, what can you do to stay on track with your fitness goals during the festive season?
We have special classes on Thursday and Friday, a Fit Tip, and a chance to give.
Thanksgiving Day 11/24/11
We are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. However, the Nursery and Snack Bar are closed. Try the new fitness machines, play some tennis with the family, or swim a few laps before sitting down to lunch/dinner.
Want to get your pre-caloric burn on in a class? Here’s what we’re offering on Thanksgiving Day:
Fit Friday 11/25/11
We are open 6:00 am – 6:00 pm, Nursery 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and Snack Bar 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
We also have a couple of specials for the day after Thanksgiving: Turkey-Busting Boot Camp for adults and Junior Thanksgiving Camp.
Turkey-Busting Boot Camp 9:00 am – 11:00 am is complimentary to members and guests.
Drill Sergeants Briggs, Rous, and Hannan have prepared a post-Thanksgiving Boot Camp guaranteed to work off those pounds and stay ahead of the game. Sergeant Wiedenfeld will be conducting a Cardio Tennis station for a fun new way to burn Thursday’s casserole calories.
Kids need something to do? Junior Thanksgiving Camp runs from 9:00 – 11:30 am providing tennis, fitness, and lots of fun and games, open to all ages and levels.
For adults on the tennis side we are running:
Here are a few tips that may help you be a little kinder to your bodies over the holiday season from personal trainer Jessica Porter:
Finally, the holidays are also a time of giving.
Midtown is collecting used racquets for the Stephanie Waterman Tennis Foundation. There is a drop-off box at the club for outgrown and unwanted racquets, which will help the foundation’s mission to help at-risk and/or economically disadvantaged children to have a better future through learning to play tennis. You can clear the clutter and help a child. The drop- off box will be available until December 19, 2011.
With our schedule back to normal for Saturday and Sunday, we hope to see you at Midtown sometime over the holiday weekend. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
How are you burning calories over the long holiday weekend?
At age 31, Petra Rampre is playing some of the best tennis of her life. I had the chance to talk to Petra, a seasoned pro on the Ladies Tour, when she was in Kansas City for the Women’s Pro Tennis Classic.
How long have you been playing tennis?
Petra: I started playing tennis at 10 with my family and developed a love of the game. At 14, I moved to Germany by myself and then to the U.S. 13 years ago. I took every opportunity to play tennis and develop my game while spending 8 years in the Atlanta area and more recently in Florida.
What is your typical day like?
Petra: I have tennis practice twice a day at the Club Med Tennis Academy. I include weights as well as running and sprints for training. I follow Vipassana Meditation, where I focus on the connection between the mind and the body. It helps me both on and off the court. With any free time I have I like to go hiking (especially high altitude hikes), biking, basketball, swimming, and watching movies.
At tournaments my day is determined by when and how long my match is. I like to do fitness as well at tournaments. I hit balls for 2 to 3 hours then do 30 minutes of core and quick feet drills, and I jump rope. Then if I have a long match, I just cool down and do stretching. At 31 and playing consistently, I need to stretch often and get the occasional massage.
What is it like on the tour?
Petra: I like tournaments a lot. I am able to travel and have a chance to catch up with old friends (or rivals) and meet new ones. The hardest part is being alone. I don’t have a traveling coach with me. With no one for support and guidance it can be tough on and off the court. At some tournaments I am lucky enough to stay with a family; it is nice to live “a normal life” for a few days.
What is your proudest moment on tour?
Petra: Attending the Wimbledon awards ceremony in 1998. When I reached the junior doubles final, the Duke and Duchess of Kent were watching.
How have you kept going?
Petra: I am consistent with my practice and training routine. Tennis gives me freedom, the ability to travel to different places and it puts food on my table. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for tennis.
What would you say to our aspiring juniors?
Petra: Be patient and persevere. Work on fitness because that is a great base. On court be positive, play in the moment. If you hit a bad shot let it go and move on. Never be content what’s “good enough.”
Any retirement plans?
Petra: No, not yet. 2011 has been a very good year, probably one of the best in last 15 years. I have been able to almost halve my ranking from 380 to 206. Highlights have been 2 wins, and I’ve been a finalist and a semifinalist. This year I was lucky enough to play in the US Open qualifying matches. I won my first match but lost the second, I was happy considering the last time I was playing in the US Open was 11 years ago.
Our season is long with 20-25 tournaments. It keeps us busy. Next year I am planning on going to the Australian Open qualifying matches and playing in more WTA events.
Thank you, Petra!
Our front desk associates are known for providing warm, welcoming smiles, remembering members’ names, and their readiness to help.
Greg Oborny has been working at the front desk for the past 21 years, long before we were Midtown Athletic Club. That is a lot of Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.
Who is this guy behind the smile?
Greg serves as the principal of Regency Place Elementary in Olathe, Kansas, a school with a population of 586 students. He’s been known to answer the phone, “Midtown Racquet Club, may I help you?” while at school, something which greatly amuses his secretary!
An avid tennis player, Greg played the Thursday night men’s 4.0 singles league for nearly 18 years. At one point he had a two-year winning streak. (Thanks, Tim Smith, for stopping the insanity!). He is pictured here playing singles during USTA HOA District Championships 2010.
His tennis idol is Chris Evert, after whom he patterns his game and approach to life:
Attending the 2011 US Open was one of the most thrilling experiences of Greg’s life. He was able to see Roddick, Serena, Nadal, Fish, Ivanovic, Tipsaravic, Schiavone and lots of world-class doubles as well as junior players. Other than walking on the grounds of Wimbledon, the US Open was his first Grand Slam.
Greg says, “It was life-changing! Motivating! Inspiring! It makes you appreciate WHY you play the game.”
Greg is known for his fitness. Only his trainer (Slayton Rous) and tennis pro (Kevin Torline) know his weaknesses! Shhhhhhh! (Just make him volley or use that darn ab incline machine where the blood rushes to the head!)
If he’s not working out, playing tennis, working late at school, or working the Midtown front desk, you might find him practicing music as he’s a church organist/pianist. If it is Wednesday night or Saturday morning, be sure to stop by and say hi to Greg!
Slayton was the first trainer hired at our club. In the last two years, he has seen us morph from a tennis club into a full-service tennis and fitness center.
Here, Slayton talks about his background, the evolution of our club, and how a fitness floor-phobic tennis player might make the bold first step into a new workout routine.
What types of sports did you participate in while growing up?
I was a very active kid. You could always find me on my bike riding somewhere. I was involved in baseball, basketball, wrestling, football, soccer, track, and dance until middle school. From middle school on, I was involved in football, wrestling, baseball, powerlifting and track.
I was a state qualifier in wrestling and received 4th place at state in powerlifting. I went on to play football in college for a semester until injuries took me out. I powerlifted on my own, competing in many events and qualifying for collegiate nationals. I also have competed in mountain bike races.
When did you get the desire to go into personal training?
I knew I always wanted to be a coach and teacher. After tearing my ACL and breaking my wrist in sports, I had the chance to work with some great physical therapists, which led me to pursue a degree in Pre-Physical Therapy. I changed my degree to Health Promotion once I went to Emporia State University. Personal training never even crossed my mind until one day I was working out in the gym and the recreation director at ESU came up to me and ask me about my experience with coaching and what my major was. I started personal training soon after that and this led me to where I am today.
As our first personal trainer, how has the fitness floor changed in the last two years?
The fitness center has changed a lot. We have a lot of new equipment and are still getting more. This is the ideal place to be a personal trainer with the floor plan we have. Our equipment is spread out so that you could train in about any corner and never get in the way of anyone. We also have the nice functional room where we can work more with small apparatus, like the TRX bands, ladders, and small hurdles.
What is your personal fitness target for this year?
That’s a great question. I am always telling people to set goals but I rarely set goals for myself. I really enjoy exercise and I like to try new things all the time. I enjoy staying fit and healthy and that’s my goal. I would like to stay injury-free so that I can continue to coach and educate people as well as take care of myself and do the things I love.
What would you say to someone like me who is afraid of going on the fitness floor?
You do not have to be an athlete to be fit, and you do not have to do everything the person next to you is doing.
Be smart about what you are doing. Learn why you are doing or not doing something before you start a program that you read in a magazine or online. Keep your workout simple so that you will enjoy it and continue to do it. Work on form and fundamentals before you work on any other goals.
Thanks, Slayton.
Do you have a question you would like to ask Slayton?
Have you ever been to a dance, party, or wedding and watched others glide across the floor? Do you have a partner who refuses to get his or her groove on?
Midtown is offering beginner swing dance classes on Friday nights starting in October. This class is designed for newbies to introduce you to the fun world of dancing.
Dancing is now seen as an activity for the general public. We have to thank television shows such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” and movies such as “Mad Hot Ballroom” and “Shall We Dance” for helping to create this media phenomenon.
Teaching these classes is Emily Copeland.
As person of diverse interests, she combines her passions and education for a unique perspective on dance, personal training, group exercise, and healthy living.
Here’s the 411 on Emily:
Midtown Swing Night is an introduction to East Coast Swing.
You’ll learn:
Each class will begin with a short warm up, review of the previous classes steps, and an introduction of at least one new pattern.
Learning to dance can be not only fun but also a great way to burn calories. One hour of moderate ballroom dancing will burn on average of 270 calories!
Mark your calendars for Friday September 30th at 5:30 – 6:30 pm for a fun, complimentary dance class. Once you try it, you will want to sign up for the October session! What better place to try something new than at Midtown amongst your friends.
Don’t know what to wear? Something comfortable. If you don’t have non-marking shoes, you can just bring a pair of socks to slip on for the class.
See you there!
