New Year’s Resolutions. They’re the reason the airwaves are flooded with dieting ads after the holidays. Because after all that eggnog, all those cookies, and all that cocooning with family and friends, many of us are ready to usher in the New Year with greater resolve toward health: body, mind, and spirit.
On Jan. 1, it’s easy to imagine ourselves drinking nothing but kale smoothies and practicing 4-5 hours of Ashtanga Yoga every day. But as the weeks accrue, those lofty goals might feel a little more out of reach. And then it’s Valentine’s Day. And, well, chocolate.
Sometimes it’s easier to get inspired, and to stay motivated, in the company of others. (This is why gym memberships invariably spike in January and February.) So get on the bandwagon, sign up for something new, and see if 2016 can’t be the year when you feel better, inside and out.
Benessere Chiropractic (295 W Broadway, 541/636-3358) offers a bevy of Pilates, TRX Strength, PiYo, and yoga classes at its studio on West Broadway and Lincoln Street. Pilates is a movement system that uses a series of floor exercises to increase strength, flexibility, stamina, and concentration. It focuses on proper core engagement, breathing, and alignment. TRX is a suspension training system that builds functional strength, flexibility, balance, and core stability all at once. PiYo is a low-impact, high-intensity workout that combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefits of Pilates with the strength and flexibility of yoga. benesserechiropractic.com
Across town, the Eugene Swim & Tennis Club (2766 Crescent Ave., 541/342-4414) offers tennis, fitness, and aquatics classes for all ages. Members play tennis year-round on 11 indoor and six outdoor courts, with some participating in league play. Lessons and clinics abound for all ages and abilities, including a Junior Development Tennis Program for players age 4 to 18. The club offers a 2,200-square-foot fitness facility, featuring state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment. For group exercise, classes include Schwinn Cycling, Boot Camp, and Group Power. Certified Personal Trainers are there to help you get a jump on fitness, stay fit, and continue life-long exercise and wellness. The club also has an aquatics area, with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, adjacent year-round spa, and wading pool. estc.org
And for creative types, why not kill two birds with one stone? Get ripped, and pretend you’re the newest member of Cirque du Soleil, by trying your hand at an aerial silks class. Bounce Gymnastics and Circus Arts Center (329 W 3rd Ave., 541/343-4222) offers classes for all ages in tumbling, gymnastics, and aerial arts. Adults can train in aerial silks, trapeze, and lyra (aerial hoop), all levels and abilities welcome. If that sounds too intense, you could try Aerial Yoga, a mixture of traditional yoga poses combined with aerial arts, allowing participants to experience balancing, strengthening, and stretching along with the added excitement of aerial arts. Students are guided through different poses and exercises using an individual aerial fabric hammock set to hip height. No aerial experience is necessary, but moderate physical strength is recommended. All classes are multi-level, so all levels are welcome. bouncegymnastics.com
So whether you’re spinning on a cycle or dangling from a silk, find some ways to make the New Year brighter. You’ll increase your health, and you might even have fun doing it.
