Remember that promise you made to yourself on New Years Eve?
You lifted your champagne glass, popped a cheesy something or other into your mouth, and vowed to lose that extra 20 pounds you gained last year. Sure sure, we could have posted this list the week after New Years, but what good would it have done? How could a mere list have served you when you were all motivated then?
So get those brand new tennis shoes out of the closet, find those sweats, and get your move on.
Curves: 3900 Erie St., Caledonia
What: Circuit training, Zumba classes
When: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7:30pm; Saturday, 8 to 11:30am; Sunday, closed
How much: $34 a month, plus $49 one-time only sign-up fee
Details: Curves is for women, especially women who don’t want to futz with running nowhere or adjusting weights on complicated machines. “It’s not weights or treadmills or anything like that,” manager Paula O’Brien-Flaasted said. Each workout is divided among 13 machines that intuitively adjust to a person’s body size and ability and focus on different body zones. “It’s only 30 minutes, twice around the circuit, with a five-minute stretch after,” she said. Curves also offers Zumba, a Latin dance driven aerobics class, as well as a jogging station for additional cardio work.
Contact: (262) 752-1273
Dance Arts Center, 10127 Northwestern Ave., Franksville
What: Dance classes for children and adults, including hip hop, tap, jazz, Latin, ballroom, ballet and modern dance; Zumba also available; group classes are typical, although private lessons are available
When: Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, through June
How much: $55 a month, includes one class a week; add $25 for each additional dance class; $10 per class or five classes for $40 for Zumba
Details: You’ve probably seen the celebrity transformations on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Who knew dance was such a good workout? In fact, it’s great for toning and trimming, if you know where to start, said Cameron Mathe, a teacher and choreographer at Dance Arts. “I did Zumba. It’s a fast cardio workout, non-stop. I took a half-hour once and I was dying,” Mathe said. For those just stepping into the world of dance, ballet, jazz and tap can be a good place to start. Ballet is especially nice, Mathe said, because it focuses more on conditioning and strengthening than cardio.
Contact: 262-884-0788 42.75792
GraceFully Fit at Grace Church: 3626 State Road 31, Caledonia
What: Weight training
When: Monday, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
How much: $2 donation suggested per class; child care also available, $2 per child
Details: Too intimidated to go to a traditional gym? Uncomfortable lifting smaller weights in front of muscle-bound men? Then GraceFully Fit, a 45-minute weight lifting program for women, might be for you. “It’s supposed to be a safe place for women who don’t feel comfortable exercising around men,” instructor Amy Cape said. The program, which helps improve strength and balance as a compliment to cardio workouts, is adjustable to any skill set or age. In fact, Cape said, “We have several retired women in our class.” GraceFully Fit classes are open to the public. Workouts are set to inspirational or Christian music and followed by devotion.
Contact: (262) 634-2843, acape@wi.rr.com
Northside Martial Arts: 4060 N Main St., Caledonia
What: Tae Kwon Do
When: Monday through Saturday 4 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday… closed Sunday
How much: $70 a month for unlimited classes, includes uniform; free class offered for first time visitors
Details: Want to learn an ancient art while working on your fitness? You might want to try Tae Kwon Do. “Most of our adults take the class to lose weight,” said Deb Gray, an assistant instructor. “It’s a lot of cardio. People don’t realize how much cardio.” Classes are geared toward personal ability, so experience or past injuries usually aren’t an issue. “If you have to kick garden gnomes, kick garden gnomes. You can work up to kicking off people’s heads,” Gray teased. The studio also offers instruction in Jeet Kune Do, also known as Bruce Lee-style martial arts, and Pankration, a blend of boxing and wrestling geared toward women.
Contact: (262) 681-8536
River Bend Nature Center: 3600 N Green Bay Road, Caledonia
What: snowshoe, cross-country ski and canoe rentals, depending on the season; workshops and classes, including yoga and fitness training, also available
When: Park open dawn to dusk; yoga classes meet Thursday, 5 to 6 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
How much: $5/person/hour for rentals; $40 for four yoga classes; other class prices vary
Details: If the gym isn’t for you, consider taking a jaunt through a winter wonderland. Cross country skiing can burn 350 calories an hour. Snowshoeing burns about 400. Heck, even a slow walk can burn almost 100 calories an hour, according to online calorie counters. And that’s free. “We’ve got walkers out here every day,” said Christy Hoff, an educator and naturalist at the center. And, unlike county or state parks, there’s no entrance sticker or fee required. If you decide to ski or snowshoe, basic instruction is included with the rental.
Contact: (262) 639-0930
