Washington Evening Journal
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REC Center offers plenty of programs to keep summer fitness routine long into winter
BY KARYN SPORY
Mt. Pleasant News
Summer is slowly slipping away.
The leaves are beginning to change color, there is a crispness in the air and decadent holiday treats are right around the corner. With the shorter, cooler, busy days ahead, it can be easy to let a summer fitness regimen fall away like the golden leaves off a tree, but Jordyn Dingman, program director at Mt. Pleasant REC Center, says that doesn?t ...
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Sep. 30, 2018 9:50 pm
BY KARYN SPORY
Mt. Pleasant News
Summer is slowly slipping away.
The leaves are beginning to change color, there is a crispness in the air and decadent holiday treats are right around the corner. With the shorter, cooler, busy days ahead, it can be easy to let a summer fitness regimen fall away like the golden leaves off a tree, but Jordyn Dingman, program director at Mt. Pleasant REC Center, says that doesn?t have to be the case.
?It gets harder to work outside as the weather gets colder,? assesses Dingman. ?So you probably want to look into joining a gym if you?re not already a member.?
The REC Center, Dingman says, has a variety of exercise classes that is sure to fit into anyone?s schedule and fitness level. ?We?re offering a bunch of new stuff along with (classes) we?ve already been doing.?
Some of the new fitness classes include HIT, which stands for high intensity interval training. The class is on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Also new to the REC Center is a kickboxing course, which doesn?t begin until November, but Dingman says is already booked up. ?It?s already very popular and has gotten a lot of sign-ups.?
But don?t fear, Dingman assures that more sections will be added.
The REC Center also has a boot camp, TRX suspension trainer, which allows individuals to use their own body weight to perform exercises, cycling and a Saturday morning circuit city class. ?Circuit city uses a variety of equipment, different stations and moves and just hits every muscle group. There?s cardio involved so you burn more calories,? she said.
All of the classes are free with a membership except TRX boot camp and kickboxing.
Besides the classes being new and invigorating, Dingman says group exercise classes like these can also help participants keep themselves motivated and accountable. ?It?s not something you?ll be forced to go to and you can defiantly miss a class,? she says with a chuckle, ?but if you are one of those people who want (others) to ask you where you were and what you?ve been up to because you haven?t been in class for a while, then group exercise is a good option.?
Dingman says having a goal is always a great way to keep a fitness regimen on track. ?There?s a lot of 5Ks that come out in the fall so they?re pretty fun themed,? she said. ?There?s so many activities coming out in the next couple of months, that alone can keep you pretty busy and pretty active.?
Dingman points to the REC Center?s own 5K, the Glowing Pumpkin Fun Run, which will be held Oct. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at East Lake Park. ?It?s a really fun night,? she said. ?We had about 200 people show up last year.?
The 1.5 mile course is lit up by tea lights and glow sticks and participants can walk or run. ?It?s a fun time. We have lots of kids activities and games and Sweet and Saucy BBQ truck is going to be out there so you can grab dinner afterwards.?
As always, exercising is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental. ?In the winter, the colder months, we all talk about getting the winter blues,? she said. ?Exercise is a really good way to get you out of (the winter blues) and keep your energy high.?
And, Dingman says, it will help to balance out the extra portions of pumpkin pie, stuffing and turkey we?re all bound to load up on during the holidays.
For more information about group classes, personal training or the Glowing Pumpkin Fun Run, contact the REC Center at 319-385-2960 or www.mpreccenter.com.