Health

Last Updated on Monday, 04 July 2016 04:48

For detailed information, visit monvalleyymca.org or call 724-483-8077.

Balanced Body, a group fitness program with 48 weekly classes, offers something for every fitness level ages 14 and up.

Yoga is a low-intensity option on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. performed seated or behind a chair; it increases strength, flexibility, balance, and energy with deep breathing and gentle stretching.

Arthritis, Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., and Classic, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m., also use a chair for comfort and support but also make use of dumbbells, resistance tubing, and balls to create a fun, stress-free workout that is designed to decrease stress by increasing strength and endurance.

High intensity options include Basic Training on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Total Body Training on Monday, 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., and Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Also included in the Balanced Body Program are strength classes such as Pump, Saturdays at 8 a.m., Buns and Guns, Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. and Group Cycle classes with morning, evening and Saturday classes.

Zumba takes the "work" out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. The music comes from the following dance styles: cumbia, salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, cha cha cha, reggaeton, soca, samba, hip hop music, axé music and tango. Classes are held Monday and Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Water Exercise classes begin July 13. Exercising in the pool is like exercising in a liquid gym. Submerged in water, you spend the entire exercise session working your muscles in pairs. On land, an arm curl would only work the bicep; in water the same arm curl works both the bicep and tricep thanks to submerged resistance.

Water fitness is an excellent choice for improving both cardiovascular health and muscle tone, especially when joint health is a concern as the water’s buoyancy greatly decreases impact.

Morning classes include Arthritis, Splash, Wet Vest (deep water), Splash Dance, and Aqua Zumba. Evening classes include Deep Water Running and Aqua Fit.