Rec center to celebrate 10 years with open house

In recognition of 10 years of promoting good health in the Springfield community, the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center will host an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 7, with free activities all day. The center will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Jan. 1, 2017.

www.eagletimes.com    

2016-12-27 / Front Page Rec center to celebrate 10 years with open house By TORY JONES toryb@eagletimes.com Swimmers take to the water at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center, which will celebrate 10 years in January. — COURTESY Swimmers take to the water at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center, which will celebrate 10 years in January. — COURTESY SPRINGFIELD — In recognition of 10 years of promoting good health in the Springfield community, the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center will host an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 7, with free activities all day. The center will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Jan. 1, 2017. The center at 140 Clinton St. is named after former Springfield resident and Vermont State Sen. Edgar May, who Executive Director Cristian Craig called “the driving force” behind the creation and opening of the facility. Craig, who has been with the Edgar May center since the facility opened in 2007, said May was committed to providing area residents, especially youth and seniors, a “safe, indoor place to be active and healthy.” Particularly popular is the spinning class, which the center offers 10 times a week, he said. “Our members and participants really enjoy our Group Exercise classes. They offer a consistent workout in a very fun and supportive environment,” he said. Open house activities will include free use of the facilities, tours, and a wide range of free classes and demonstrations. The Edgar May is a regional facility with members from nearly 30 communities including Chester, Ludlow, Grafton, Bellows Falls, Weathersfield, Windsor and Reading in Vermont; and Claremont, Charlestown, Acworth and Walpole in New Hampshire, Craig said. The center offers a wide range of classes — nearly 30 per week for group exercise. For programs, Craig said the Burn to Earn is “definitely our most popular,” and returns in early January. Burn to Earn is a 6-week program that provides participants with a weekly personalized workout plan, diet guidelines, and a check-in each week with one of our coaches. Participants deposit $180, and each week they come in an and meet with their coach, they get $20 back. “If they check in each week, they would receive $120 back and the 6-week program would only cost $60 or $10 per week for a weekly workout, diet plan, and meeting with one of our coaches. The program really holds people accountable, and who doesn’t like getting $20 each week,” he said. The center also offers a scholarship program for low-incomes households. Craig said 18 percent of members are on financial assistance, with priority given to Springfield seniors and families. “The program is relatively simple, we ask that you fill out a one page form and submit income verification,” he said. A full schedule of events is planned throughout the day, beginning with a Masters Swim Group at 7 a.m. in the Lap Pool. A variety of other events and classes including spinning, aqua exercises, youth and play activities and other health-boosting classes will take place all day at the center. At 7:30 a.m., TRX will take place at Studio Momentum. TRX, or suspension training, is a unique training method for a full workout incorporating flexibility, strength, core, and cardio, according to a press release from the center. At 8:30 a.m., a spinning class will take place, also at Studio Momentum. Aqua exercises, for chronic pain, are scheduled for 9 a.m. with Kim in the Therapy Pool. Starting at 10 a.m., visitors can take part in the New Year, New Workout in the Fitness Center. Open house visitors can try out a practice with the youth swim team, the Stingrays, at 10 a.m. Also at 10 a.m., Open Play for Kids will take place at Studio Momentum. Children age 5 and younger may try out the indoor play space featuring tumble mats, exercise balls, climbing structures, foam blocks and soft balls, parachute lay and more. Turbo Kick with Krista starts at 11:30 a.m. at Studio Momentum, with a cardio-kickboxing class. Afternoon sessions include a 1 p.m., 45-minute Total Body Tone with Kim at Studio Momentum. Also at 1 p.m., the New Year, New Workout will take place in the Fitness Center. Open Play for Kids at Studio Momentum will take place again at 2:30 p.m. At 4 p.m., visitors can try Zumba with Alysia at Studio Momentum. In addition to the free events, the center will also offer a wide range of promotions that day, including $10 off any memberships purchased that day, $10 off swimming lesson registration, $10 off class punch cards, and $10 off a personal training session. The Edgar May Health and Recreation Center features a competition-size lap pool, children’s wading pool, and a warm water therapy pool. It also features a 4,500-square-foot fitness center with cardio, strength, and free weight equipment, and a group exercise studio with more than 30 classes per week. The center also offers a wide range of health and wellness programs, including swimming lessons, chronic pain management classes, boot camps, personal training, a Prescription for Exercise Program, and scholarships. The center’s rates reflect May’s commitment to healthy activities, Craig said. Youths can purchase a membership for $13 per month, and a senior citizen can exercise at the facility for $31 per month. For more information about the center or its programs, and a full schedule of events for the open house, call (802) 885-2568 or visit www.myreccenter.org.