Build Heart Healthy Habits During American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month—the perfect time to educate yourself about the risks for heart disease and take steps to living a more heart-healthy lifestyle. Did you know that not getting regular physical activity is one of the risk factors for heart disease? According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute regular physical activity can not only help you lose excess weight and improve physical fitness but it can also lower many heart disease risk factors such as “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels, and manage high blood pressure. In addition, it can help to lower stress and improve mental health as well as lower your risk for other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, depression and cancer—all good reasons to take care of your heart.

If you’re looking to live a more active lifestyle and build other heart-heathy habits we encourage you to check out some of our classes and activities that may help you in your health and wellness journey.

Mind-body Educational Workshops

Embrace 2023 with our Mind-body Educational Workshops! The workshops are free for passholders of both Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center and/or Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center. Non-passholders are welcome to participate as well by registering and paying a minimal fee.

Open Heart Yoga Workshop

Show yourself some love and invite in compassion with this Open Heart flow and meditation. Explore shapes to balance the spine, open shoulders and chest while increasing breath capacity and heart openness.

Spring Equinox blossoming Yoga Flow Workshop

Embrace and welcome the energy of the Spring Equinox. Illuminate your playful side with a blossoming Yoga flow to remind you of strength, beauty and grace.

Click here for more information about both workshops.

Holistic Nutritional & Lifestyle Consultation

This free, 30 minute one-on-one consultation session will address your specific goals and outline our programs for your “next level”.  To make an appointment for your free consultation at Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, call 703-792-8669.

Tai Chi

Promote strength, balance, flexibility and relieve stress for a healthier you for a lifetime. Sign up to explore Tai Chi’s many benefits in a non-competitive and supportive atmosphere that is challenging and enjoyable. Beginners and all levels are welcome!

Active Adults – Health and Wellness

Physical activity and good nutrition are important aspects of a healthy and wellbeing lifestyle. Over the two classes, participants will engage in physical activities along with learning valuable information on health and nutrition. This program is designed for active adults to learn about building beneficial health and wellness habits.

Aquabilities

This specialty class is designed expressly for those with arthritis and joint issues or anyone who needs to move slower in the comfortability of a warm-water environment. Use the properties of water to increase range of motion, facilitate balance, and strengthen the body. Guarantee your spot in this personal trainer-led, small group personalized training class.

Pilates Reformer Plus

The versatility of the Pilates Reformer has made it one of the most popular and effective pieces of equipment used in fitness today! From activating your deep core muscles, to learning proper body alignment and breathing, to working through post injury rehabilitation there is a fun and challenging class for all fitness levels. Our specialized small group fitness Reformer PLUS classes allow for a variety of other Pilates apparatuses to be used along with the Reformer during class including the Tower, Jump boards, Wunda Chairs, Spine Correctors and Barrel. These challenging and invigorating classes will help safely build muscular endurance, core strength, balance, coordination and flexibility to transform your body! Classes are limited to five students to allow for proper form correction and modifications by instructor.

Aikido

Aikido is a modern Japanese martial arts designed for defense against larger, armed and multiple opponents. This art is based on ancient Jujitsu fighting styles. Practice of Aikido also leads to fitness benefits and personal growth. All experience levels are welcomed. Class will meet Saturdays 8:00 am – 9:00 am and Sundays 9:30 am – 11:30 am.

Take a hike!

If you’re looking to get more steps in each day, we encourage you to do so at one of our many parks and trails. You can find information about all of parks by visiting pwcrecmapper.com.

We also encourage you to share any photos of your “heart-healthy” activities with us by tagging @pwcparks on social media or using the hashtag #PWCparks, and #OurHearts during American Heart Month.