For health’s sake, don’t put off your “spring cleaning” this year. The debris that comes from a sedentary lifestyle, such as weight gain, stress and fatigue, must be cleaned out so we can live happier, healthier lives. Fortunately, Chattanooga is bursting at the seams with opportunities to be active. From beautiful outdoor trails and parks to numerous fitness and wellness centers, Chattanooga has what we need to start the "Spring Cleaning" now, and at the same time, do it with family or friends.
Dr. Bill Oellerich, cardiologist with the Chattanooga Heart Institute, advises his patients to make time for exercise. “Exercise is a direct contributor to alleviating many health problems people face today and can actually improve three of the five risk factors for heart disease.” Those factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Family history and smoking make up factors four and five. Dr.Oellerich added, “People who exercise think more about improving their health and are more likely to follow up with their doctor, take their medications correctly and watch what they eat.” In some cases, he said, exercise can actually decrease the need for certain medications and can have a direct effect on a person’s mental health.
So where should we start? As roving fitness reporter for HealthScope Magazine, I investigated a variety of health clubs around town and talked with some of Chattanooga’s dedicated fitness instructors to get the latest scoop on exercise programs and tips for healthier living. To give you a first-hand account of what is new, along with the tried-and-true, I grabbed a towel and joined Spin classes (a great ride on a stationary bike ), jogged the scenic bridges, lifted weights, tried unsuccessfully to look graceful in yoga, and even enlisted in boot camp.
Yes, I am a bit sore but thanks to an economy sized tube of Bengay, and a thoughtful husband who gives a great massage, I can report that fitness is where it’s at. Health clubs are working hard to get you through their doors to start the transformation from “untidy” to “sleek and clean”. But most importantly, they have a variety of different programs that allow you to exercise and have FUN! We all have enough work to do in our day, so look at your workout as thirty minutes of recess with family or friends.
If enjoying exercise is a new concept for you, then a program like WOW, Working-Off-Weight, taught by veteran instructor, Sylvia Greene, at Jack Silberman’s Fitness Studio for Women could be just the place for you. Sylvia packs a whole lot of soul and a good deal of sweat into one exhilarating hour that seems more like a night out with the girls, at a disco, than an exercise class.
These ladies, or “sisters,” as Sylvia called them, did not need an appearance from John Travolta to lift their moods, they were feeling the love in the “burn, baby, burn,” and enjoying every minute. When I asked Sylvia, who has been teaching for twenty years, what kept her motivated to lead these classes each week, she quickly responded, “This is my ministry, healing the whole person – the physical, the spiritual and the emotional. It is much more than just losing weight.” Sylvia’s class promotes fellowship with encouragement to keep “her sisters” motivated to reach their goals.
Similar to WOW, Curves (sorry guys, ladies only) offers participants a place to go where networking with friends is as important as the actual workout. A sign in the Signal Mountain Curves center reads, “Women at play – She who does not make time for exercise must make time for illness.” Curves’ participants work out in thirty-minute sessions using hydraulic machines that are easy to use and accommodate all levels of fitness. Included with a Curves membership is your subscription to diane, a magazine that offers tips for a healthier lifestyle, meal plans complete with delicious recipes, and inspirational stories from people who have taken positive steps to improve their quality of life.
If you consider yourself fit and believe the “gain is in the pain," or appreciate someone pushing you with “Move-it!, Move-it!", then boot camp could be the place for you. Here, you can bond with fellow comrades and get fit quickly and efficiently. Beth Murphy, a.k.a. Sgt. Murphy, Group Exercise Coordinator at the downtown YMCA, heads up a one-hour class that moves swiftly from cardio work to abdominals and strength training. Guys, you will like boot camp because talking is reduced to high-fives, only to allow for necessary breathing (sorry girls, chit-chat will have to wait for the locker room). Fit camps are always popular, and I found the class to be more fun than the name implies.
Yoga and Pilate’s classes are becoming increasingly popular, especially with baby boomers who want a full body, low impact workout. According to Susan Bryant, a certified yoga therapist with Clear Springs Yoga and the Sport’s Barn; yoga wears many masks, from the challenge of power yoga to the healing aspects of yoga therapy. As a yoga therapist, Susan partners with individuals who are dealing with specific issues such as an illness or injury. Yoga helps them “restore balance in their body where it is needed.” Additionally, Susan says, "many athletes find that practicing yoga helps them perform better at their sport."
When doing Pilates, Sydney Craig, owner of Signal Mountain Pilates says, "Pilates is about building your core muscles, the deep abdominals and back muscles known as the body's stabilizers. Participants of Pilates work the body from the inside out to build a strong foundation."
Another way to achieve a great workout with low impact is in the pool. Frances Archer, Aquatics Director for the Sport’s Barn, has developed a variety of programs to meet all levels of fitness. Water lovers can join the Adapted Aquatics class for a low-impact workout that not only helps you become fit, but relieves stress and can help to heal injuries. For the hard core, there is High Intensity; a new class described by Ms. Archer as a “deep water workout meant to move your body fast and put you in great shape.” Personally, I liked her description of the water volleyball class where participants come “purely to play and have a good time.”
Permanent lifestyles are the focus at the Rush. Its formula for success is motivation, education, visualization plus determination = transformation. With four locations and certified trainers eager to work with members 24/7, general manager, Billy Bridges said, "Rush focuses on making fitness fun while turning it into lifestyle."
At Fitness Together, it’s all about personal training focused on quality of life. Certified personal trainers use personalized fitness assessments, as well as information gathered from initial consultations, to develop exercise and nutrition plans specific to their client’s needs and goals. According to Julian Kaufman, owner of Fitness Together, “We help people improve their quality of life with one-on-one personal training, in fully equipped, private training suites; no waiting, no distractions.”
Jack Silberman, owner of Silberman's Fitness Studio, noted that resistance training has increased in popularity among women as a means to combat osteoporosis, speed metabolism, and re-shape the body. “If the body is strong, posture improves and there is less work for the heart." So the weight room, once perceived as a “men at work zone,” is now coed with women “lifting the bar” for fitness.
According to Silberman, another growing trend is small group personal training. This program allows groups of three or four to enjoy exercising together while working on individual plans designed by a trainer. Additionally, with the shared time, you share costs for personal training.
Wow! All of this sounds like a lot to consider. But really, I have only touched on a few opportunities available for you to make fitness part of a healthy lifestyle. Chattanooga offers many opportunities to incorporate exercise into your day and have fun doing it! So call a buddy and enjoy a new twist in “spring cleaning.”