People tend to abandon their inside fitness when the weather starts warming up and they come back inside when it cools off.
It’s an understandable migration, particularly in the Midwest, but it doesn’t have to mean completely ignoring the charms of an inside workout.
Sanford Wellnessgroup fitness supervisor Jill Fries loves the outdoors but wants to remind everyone that there is still a lot going on during the summer at the Wellness Centers. Plus there are plenty of opportunities to combine indoor and outdoor activities that can enhance quality of life.
“When it’s nice outside, we want to get out there,” said Fries, a former University of South Dakota volleyball player who is a registered yoga instructor. “But sometimes we don’t think about maintaining our fitness throughout the summer. We just want to jump right into different activities. Maybe we feel a tweak here or there. If we can maintain coming in here and working out, working different body groups, it will help with our outdoor activities.”
What are summer activities that really don’t get much love during the winter? Gardening, fishing, cycling, golfing — the list goes on.
“If we’re being proactive about it and coming to a group fitness class, we might be working each one of those different body groups,” Fries said. “That can allow us to be stronger and have the flexibility to be able to really enjoy all the aspects of outdoor fitness and all the other fun things we do outside.”
Fitness with friends
Fries and the Wellness Center staff have plenty to offer. Flexibility, in this case, goes well beyond loosening up the hamstrings. It also applies to the number of group sessions and variety of activities. Between the 49thand Oxbow and Tea-Ellis locations, there are more than 100 weekly classes, including seven that are completed by 7 a.m.
“We encourage people to go online, look at our schedule and match it up with what fits best into their world,” Fries said. “Maybe it’s a 45-minute class over lunch or maybe it’s a start to your day.”
The fitness classes vary from indoor cycling to options focusing on strength to cardio dance to yoga. The added bonus is the company you’re keeping. Exercise can be more fun with other people involved.
“我们都有这些不同的系统——循环系统、神经系统、呼吸系统——我们从物理意义上关注这些系统，”Fries说。“但通过加入一个大的群体，甚至一个更小的群体，人们变得更熟悉彼此，这确实有助于我们自己的大脑健康。也许这只是例行公事，你会遇到两三个朋友，你喜欢锻炼。你可以享受身体方面的乐趣，但你也获得了心理健康方面的好处。”
Not stuck inside
The Wellness Centers will also go outside for some classes occasionally during the summer when the weather is agreeable and the activity does not require a lot of equipment. Yoga, for instance, can be a popular outdoor workout.
弗莱斯说:“我们在室外有一些美丽的草地。”“我们还与苏福尔斯市等实体合作，在公园里做瑜伽。我们的成员有机会与他们通常会联系的人联系，但在不同的环境下。”
Ultimately, the Wellness Centers offer variety. Everyone approaches the challenges of fitness a little differently. The staff in place understands that.
“我从不同的成员那里听到，他们对我们所做的一切表示感谢，”弗莱斯说。“这是一种一站式服务，他们可以来这里进行集体健身。他们可以使用游泳池或我们提供的任何其他设施。他们很高兴所有的一切都在一个屋檐下。”
Learn more
- Wellness centers encourage members to own their fitness
- Joining Forces program supports military family fitness
- Pickleball offers wellness and good company
…
Posted InHealthy Living,Orthopedics,Sioux Falls,Sports Medicine
