Due to ever-increasing enrollment in our fitness and exercise classes, the number of participants prohibits bringing children to class, not only because of space requirements but also the distraction of children to the instructor and class participants. For senior classes, please check out classes for yoga, cycling, Pilates, Tai Chi and Zumba in the Lifelong Recreation section. For more information, please contact the Community Building at (785) 832-7920.
Choosing the right fitness program will help you enjoy what you are doing and remain motivated over time. LPRD instructors can help guide you in adapting a class to your needs. To get you started, classes are rated one to three stars. For the best experience, consider your current fitness level and goals when registering. Still not sure? Guest passes are available for fitness classes. Use them to attend a single class session and make the right choice for your goals.
★ Introductory: Just starting to exercise or haven’t exercised in six months.
★★ Intermediate: Fairly active in sports, dance or some type of regular exercise (2 to 3 times per week).
★★★ Advanced: Very Active in sports or have been exercising four or more times per week for six months.
Lifelong Recreation provides programs designed to maintain an active lifestyle for people age 50 and older. If you are younger than 50 years-old but interested in any program in the 50-plus section of this guide, contact Gayle Sigurdson at (785) 832-7920 or gsigurdson@lawrenceks.org. We will be happy to enroll you, if space is available. If you have suggestions for programs: something you have always wanted to do, something unusual, challenging or just more fun with a group, please share your ideas.
FITNESS
MATS
Mats are no longer available for individual use through the Parks and Recreation Department. Participants are responsible for providing their own workout mat.
YOUR FITNESS INSTRUCTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS
All LPRD fitness instructors are required to attend on-going workshops and in-service seminars to maintain current certification. CPR and First Aid certification are also required from our instructors. We are proud to ensure the best in a fun, safe environment. Participation in any activity does present an element of risk. LPRD recommends participants check with a physician prior to participation in a fitness class or sports activities.
Information about personal training, trainers, forms and pricing are available online at www.lprd.org or contact Gayle Sigurdson at 785-832-7909, gsigurdson@lawrenceks.org.
WINTER/SPRING CLASSES
AEROBIC DANCE AND TONE ★★★
Exercise has never been so fun. Get moving with fun lively music from all eras that will condition and strengthen your body. Then tone and stretch with a variety of moves and equipment that will focus on core stability, strength, balance, and flexibility. This total body package will keep you looking and feeling young. Instructor: Teresa Kelley.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
CHAIR YOPI PLUS
This gentle yet challenging class is a mixture of stretching, flexibility, balance, strengthening, and mind-body awareness with thoughtful consideration and adjustments for mobility issues. The exercises develop joints, muscles and connective tissue in a routine that complements therapy. Instructor: Teresa Kelley.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
CORE STRENGTH
Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips, and stomach to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and stability. This class will focus on strengthening your core, essential for overall wellness.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
DANCE FITNESS
Experience a total body, cardio workout through a variety of easy-to-follow dance routines set to old and new favorites. Class will alternate between a long non-stop cardio dance segment followed by strength/core exercises or an interval style class with cardio dances interspersed with strength training. Simple enough for beginners yet challenging enough for advanced students. Instructor: Rosie Shelton.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
LA BLAST
LaBlast is a perfect balance of dance and fitness. This ‘workout in disguise’ will get you moving to dances like the Jive, Salsa, Quickstep, Paso Doble, Viennese Waltz, and many more. No partner needed! During LaBlast classes, you’ll dance to music from every artist, genre, and era! Instructor: Susan Pomeroy.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
LIFELONG STRENGTH AND LENGTH
This traditional Pilates Mat class focuses on strengthening the deep core and toning all muscle groups, followed by lengthening the muscles through focused stretching. Developing stability and healthy posture is practiced, as well as breath and release work. Props include bands, light weights, Pilates rings, and stability Pilates balls are used to further enhance this mind body class. Instructor: Melanie Johnson.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
PILATES SILVER
Pilates is a modern approach to body conditioning that keeps you on the cutting edge of fitness. This class focuses on core muscles: hips, thighs and abdominals, as well as strengthening and toning through stretching as the body moves. Main Pilates principles include: flowing motion, breathing, flexibility, precision, centering and control. This class not only strengthens your body but your mind as well. Instructor: Pat Middaugh.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
SENIOR STRENGTH TRAINING ★★1/2
Strength training for seniors is effective in improving balance (preventing falls), strengthening major muscle groups, and increasing muscle mass and bone density. The class is designed to include functional movement patterns that enhance daily living activities. A variety of strength training equipment will be used, including free weights, resistance tubing and bands. Class includes a warm-up period and a post-workout stretch. Instructors: Deb Geraghty (DG); Melanie Johnson (MJ).
Find out when Melanie Johnson is instructing and enroll online this winter
Find out when Deb Geraghty is instructing and enroll online this winter
Find out when Melanie Johnson is instructing and enroll online this spring
Find out when Deb Geraghty is instructing and enroll online this spring
SLIMNASTICS **
Feel good while getting slim and trim in this exercise class for men and women. Concentrating on muscle toning and strengthening all muscle groups, we will focus on toning and sculpting your muscles to create a healthy, well-balanced body. Exercises are done to music, but there are no routines to learn. Bring a mat for floor workout. Instructor: Rosie Shelton.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
SUPER SENIOR CIRCUIT ★★
This 50-minute “full body” group workout is designed for the active senior adult, regardless of previous experience with strength training. Every participant performs a total of ten to twelve different exercises in the circuit utilizing a combination of free weights, stability balls, and resistance bands. As a result, each participant will experience an improved level of strength and fitness as each participant performs every exercise at his or her current level of strength and fitness. Utilizing this commonsense approach minimizes injury risk while maximizing improvement in functional strength and weight management, in addition to improved balance and agility. Instructors: Stephanie Foglesong, Carlo Washington and Brandon Lavergne.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
BEGINNING TAI CHI ★
Tai Chi is a graceful, low-impact exercise especially suited to seniors. It consists of a series of slow motion movements that increase body strength, enhance coordination and improve balance. Tai Chi’s relaxed performance calms the body, reduces emotional stress, and promotes clear thinking. Long practiced by people of all ages in China, Tai Chi is recognized in America as a way of carrying health and well-being into later life. This class practices the Yang style Tai Chi short form. Note: sessions are longer than standard fitness schedule. Instructor: Craig Voorhees.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
TAI CHI FOR ALL ★
This program is designed to improve health and quality of life for everyone. The movements are simple and can be adapted for all. Participants may stand or sit throughout class. There are no floor exercises. The Arthritis Foundation of America, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Administration on Aging each recommend this program as meeting their standards for health programming. Instructor: Susan Pomeroy.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
TAI CHI FOR ENERGY ★
Tai Chi for Energy is a more sophisticated Tai Chi for Health form, combining the complementary energy of both Sun and Chen styles. Chen is vigorous and complex, integrating fast and slow movements with powerful spiral force. Sun incorporates agile steps and powerful qigong movements for healing. This class is suitable for those with prior experience in Sun Style tai chi, particularly Tai Chi for Arthritis, who wish to enlarge and deepen their tai chi practice. Instructor: Susan Pomeroy.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
TRX FLEX FUSION ★★
Looking for a perfect blend of strength and balance exercises for a stable core? TRX Flex Fusion combines full-body strengthening with flexibility training to increase mobility and resilience. This quintessential TRX experience will lead you down the road to your best all-around fitness. Instructor: Melanie Johnson.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
LIFELONG YOGA
Revitalize muscles and increase flexibility while learning how to stabilize your spine through the mindful movement and breath. By using the full capacity of the lungs through correct breathing, you will oxygenate the body and the brain, improving blood circulation and your sense of well-being. Instructors: Mary Anne Saunders (MS) | Kim McDaneld (KM).
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
FITNESS YOGA ★★
Promote general health and wellbeing through the practice of basic Hatha yoga postures and Vinyasa flow sequences. In this laid-back class, participants are encouraged to work at their own level of ability so they can develop greater strength, flexibility, balance, agility, endurance and focus. Students should bring a yoga mat. Instructor: Fran Hopkins.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
RESTORATIVE YOGA ★
Restorative yoga offers students a delicious way to relax, and ease anxiety. Restorative yoga also encourages physical, mental and emotional relaxation by gently releasing tension and tight muscles through stillness and breath. All yoga poses are held for longer periods of time using bolsters, blankets, and blocks to prop students into passive poses. Many poses are on the floor, please bring your own mat. Chairs will be available. Your body can experience the healing benefits of a slower pace yoga with basic breath work (Pranayama), and mediation. Instructor: Kim McDaneld.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring
RESTORATIVE YOGA WORKSHOP
Are you curious about the benefits of restorative yoga? Join us for an in-depth exploration of how self-massage, myofascial release, and breathing exercises can enhance traditional restorative yoga poses, along with joint release and mild free-movement exercises. These techniques will introduce you to the tools for conscious relaxation, helping you to unwind and de-stress. Instructor Kim McDaneld.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring