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| Do you remember those promises you made? You know, the ones you committed to on New Year’s Day and swore to fulfill more than six months ago? It went something like this: “I promise to lose weight. I promise I’ll go to the gym. I promise I’ll be more active, walk, swim, do aerobics, lift weights, take a spin class, or maybe do yoga or Pilates.” You’re in the bottom half of the year now. Have you kept your promises? Before the next New Year’s Eve comes around, now may be the perfect time to start. Plus, it can be very easy to do at the City of Lakewood Recreation Centers, says Paula Aurand, a fitness coordinator for the Recreation Department. The city’s four modern facilities are available year-round. There are convenient locations, along with widespread hours of operation that can easily accommodate your schedule, your lifestyle, and your pocketbook, Paula explains. Unlike high-profile gyms and fitness clubs, there is no set fee to join Lakewood Recreation. “There is no membership, no contract,” says Paula. “You just pay to use the facilities.” Paula adds that individuals can purchase a six-month pass (ranging from $145 to $269) or a one-year pass (ranging from $250 to $459). Costs vary according to whether it’s an individual or family pass, with discounts being available to seniors 65 and older and to military families. Overall, according to Paula, “The cost typically averages out to just $4 per visit.” Swimming might be something to consider doing. The Lakewood Recreation Aquatics Program offers many opportunities such as aqua fitness classes, private swim lessons, and even dive teams for the more adventuresome person. Four of the city’s indoor pools are open year-round. They are located at Carmody Recreation Center, 2200 S. Kipling Street; Green Mountain Recreation Center, 13198 W. Green Mountain Drive; Charles Whitlock Recreation Center, 1555 Dover; and Lakewood Link Recreation Center, 1295 S. Reed Street. There are also two outdoor swimming pools at Morse Park (8180 W. 29th Avenue) and Glennon Heights (10600 W. Virginia Avenue). If all you want to do is just get wet and then cool down without going to a swimming pool, you might want to try the Spray Ground at Ray Ross Park, 680 S. Harlan Street. Designed as a combination baseball diamond/sprinkler system, the Spray Ground can be a fun way to beat the heat. Maybe you’d like to try rock climbing. Two challenging indoor walls are available, with one located at the Charles Whitlock facility, and the other one located at Lakewood Link. If you’d like to drop in for some spur-of-the-moment basketball, you can do so at all four facilities. At some of these sites, you’ll also find other options such as racquetball/wallyball, handball, and tennis, along with weight training, kickboxing, indoor cycling, and aerobics. If you’re attracted to team sports, you might want to check out softball, kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, inline hockey, and others. You can also play unified sports where disabled and non-disabled athletes partner up as teammates. As a result of all of these physical fitness opportunities, “We’ve tripled the number of people who visit our centers,” Paula is proud to say, adding that the centers host approximately 30,000 visits by adults, children, and families each year. Although the age of the average adult participant ranges from 25 to 55, “We also have a large number of older adults,” Paula comments. For these seniors, the centers host an age-appropriate series of physical activities under the title SilverSneakers. If you’re new to the world of fitness and would like a more individualized exercise regimen, you may want to consider getting some professional guidance from a personal trainer like Paula. A fitness and wellness coordinator, Paula has a master’s degree in exercise physiology, and has been with the City of Lakewood for more than four years. Her focus is on adult fitness programs featuring yoga, Pilates, nutrition, and group exercise. “Our classes appeal to a wide range of adults,” she shares. Paula is also quick to point out that one of the most popular group exercise classes is Zumba, which is a one-hour combination dance and workout session set to a Latin beat. “It’s hip, young…it’s really motivating,” she states. On top of all that, “People stick with it.”Although the recreation centers have never before had to cap attendance in their classes, Zumba is the exception. Because so many adults enjoy the sessions, class size is limited. Even then, participants stand shoulder to shoulder, Paula remarks. For those individuals who don’t like the idea of dancing with strangers, there are many other options to keep you in shape. These include spinning, free weights, and Tai Chi. Throughout her tenure as one of the recreation staff’s personal trainers, Paula has seen some extraordinary changes in members’ attitudes, energy levels, and their health in general, she says. One of the most remarkable transformations she has witnessed was with a man named Rick. A young man in his 30’s, Rick started coming to the City of Lakewood Recreation Centers less than a year ago. “This guy lost 65 pounds in six months,” chimes in Polly Zimmerman, one of Paula’s co-workers and a center fitness supervisor. She recalls that when Rick first visited the Charles Whitlock Recreation Center, he was 150 pounds overweight and he knew that he had to change his lifestyle and exercise habits or else he would soon face some serious health-related consequences, Paula explains. One of the center’s personal trainers challenged Rick to make a 12-month commitment to work with her and get back in shape. Since that first visit, Rick has not only lost weight, but this spring he also ran one leg of the Colfax Marathon—something he never dreamed he would be able to accomplish. If you’re a runner like Rick, you may enjoy the City of Lakewood Recreation Centers’ Trail Running Series. This year will mark the fourth anniversary of the series, which involves both novice and elite runners racing through local trails each Wednesday night throughout the month of September. For those who prefer a less strenuous stroll through the city’s parks, you might want to look into Passports to the Park, which is a family oriented experience that encourages residents of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. This activity is “perfect for people who are simply trying to lose weight,” Polly notes. For more information on the City of Lakewood Recreation Centers, visit www.lakewood.org/recreation or call 303-987-7800. |
City of Lakewood Recreation Centers |
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