Fitness

Aspen’s newest gym owner wants to help the community strengthen their body and mind

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2023

Aspen’s newest gym owner wants to help the community strengthen their body and mind

Ajax Health proprietor David Mills, along with his canine Peanut, needs to construct a neighborhood as properly his new enterprise.
Kristen Mohammadi/The Aspen Occasions

Ajax Health, a brand new health club owned and operated by Aspen resident David Mills, will open Friday with a grand opening full with ribbon-cutting, appetizers and drinks, a stay DJ, and health competitions.

“It can simply be one thing enjoyable to rejoice those who are available in and present their dedication to us early on,” he stated. “We wish to give everybody a possibility to study to study extra about what’s happening on the area, to satisfy me, and rejoice the neighborhood.”

He noticed the health club as a possibility to domesticate a wholesome neighborhood area, a spot the place individuals can come collectively round bodily health whereas strengthening their psychological well being, as properly.

“I noticed Ajax Health as a tremendous alternative to offer the neighborhood one thing that I feel we had been in want of,” stated Mills. “Now we have different gyms on the town – they usually’re nice, as properly – however I simply needed to carry one thing that was state-of-the-art, that was very nice, and that might carry the neighborhood collectively by means of health.”

He moved to Aspen from the UK in 2013, after assembly his spouse – a resident of Aspen – in Thailand. Earlier than he moved, he was within the British army, the place he discovered so much about bodily coaching, constructing on his school schooling in sports activities and train science.

For him, well being and health has been his ardour for so long as he can keep in mind. He has competed within the World Champion Spartan Race within the elite class, ran backcountry marathons and path working occasions, and had spent years as a private coach in Aspen at The Aspen Membership.

As well as, he invented Vibe Curler and Monkee Mount – instruments to assist people with soreness or ache.

Whereas he had devoted his life to enhancing his bodily well being, he was candid about his expertise with mental-health struggles.

“I went by means of some actually exhausting mental-health points and had a very dangerous interval of my life for about three or 4 years,” stated Mills. “I used to be simply actually disconnected from the neighborhood and other people round me.”

With this, constructing neighborhood was on the forefront of his choice to open a health club in Aspen.

“I’ve spoken with extra individuals within the final 5 months than I’ve within the final 5 years,” he stated. “I’ve simply been connecting with many individuals, so I hope to carry a few of that to the members who come by means of as properly, going above and past only a health club.”

The health club gives state-of-the-art tools, together with Peloton stationary bikes, good treadmills, top-of-the-line free weight tools, monkey bars, and extra.

“I’m going to place my palms up and say is a number of the greatest tools on the town,” stated Mills. “It’s definitely the latest, and it’s going to be a very enjoyable area for individuals to return and work out.”

Whereas the health club is indoors, he needed to carry the good open air into the area. The partitions of the health club embody massive murals of mountain ranges and a mountain biker driving at sundown. The inside serves as inspiration for out of doors fans coaching for his or her out of doors adventures, he stated.

**Ajax Health is internet hosting a grand opening on Friday.**
*Kristen Mohammadi/The Aspen Occasions*

“The Peloton bike is nice, particularly within the winter for the mountain bikers and other people prefer to bike,” stated Mills. “Getting on the spin bike is enjoyable, however simply having that little bit extra of an interactive, higher-tech contact is certainly a pleasant characteristic.”

New members may have entry to free biometric physique scans carried out by a private coach each quarter. As well as, members will be capable to buy diet and coaching packages created by certified-nutritionists.

Fitness center-goers may even have the choice of one-on-one private coaching periods or group periods for individuals who desire a extra reasonably priced choice.

Attending group health clinics, occasions, and golf equipment can be extremely inspired as a part of the brand new health club’s community-first method to health and well-being, in line with Mills.

Down the highway, he plans to interact philanthropically with the neighborhood by establishing a free program for kids with monetary obstacles and by partnering with Veterans Expeditions, a non-profit based mostly in Salida.

“I hope to have the ability to use this as a platform to additionally give again to that neighborhood, as properly,” he stated. “That’s actually vital to me.”

Aspen resident Invoice Fabrocini, a scientific specialist in orthopedic bodily remedy and sports activities efficiency coach with over three a long time of expertise, is a minor accomplice within the health club.

Sooner or later, he plans to host month-to-month talks on well being and health to coach health club patrons, whereas constructing the health neighborhood.

Base membership at Ajax Fitnesss will vary from $148-$175 per 30 days relying on the membership kind chosen.

The grand opening can be held at their location – 100 Obermeyer Place, Suite 105 – from 4-7 p.m.

To succeed in Kristen Mohammadi, name 304-650-2404 or e mail kmohammadi@aspentimes.com.

Fitness

YMCA announces plans for new fitness center in downtown South Bend

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Press Room

YMCA announces plans for new fitness center in downtown South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – The YMCA of Greater Michiana appears to have found a new home in the heart of downtown South Bend.

Pending approval this Thursday from the city’s redevelopment commission, the YMCA says it will begin leasing the third and fourth floors of the Memorial Leighton Healthplex (111 W. Jefferson Boulevard) from the city in June. The space is currently home to Beacon Health & Fitness South Bend.

“It’s a good win for the city,” said Caleb Bauer, executive director of community investment. “It keeps preservation of the downtown fitness location, but also really adding the second location for the Y in South Bend makes sense and seemed like a good fit, and we look forward to them opening here in the near future.”

If approved, the YMCA will sign an eight-year, rent-free lease with the city at the Leighton Healthplex. In exchange, the YMCA will donate its old building on Northside Boulevard to the city at no cost for future redevelopment.

“We believe there’s good redevelopment potential there,” Bauer said. “Its right by the farmers’ market, it’s an exciting site with good river frontage.”

“The city of South Bend is excited to continue a downtown fitness presence and grateful to the YMCA for its willingness to take over fitness operations downtown,” said South Bend Mayor James Mueller in a news release. “We are grateful for the YMCA’s continued commitment to expanding operations in South Bend. The city will move forward with redevelopment of the former YMCA on Northside Boulevard, which will benefit both the nearby neighborhoods as well as the entire South Bend community.”

Once up and running, the Downtown South Bend YMCA will offer a wide range of amenities, including cardiovascular and weight training equipment, personal training, a basketball court, a racquetball court, an indoor track, a lap pool, a therapy pool, a whirlpool, saunas, aquatic and fitness classes, locker rooms, and more. Beacon Health & Fitness is donating equipment and supplies to the new YMCA facility.

“Its an amenity that people are looking for when deciding where to live,” Bauer said. “If somebody is looking to rent an apartment near downtown, they might be looking for a gym facility. And now we got one that will continue.”

The YMCA says it will maintain operations at the O’Brien Center on the city’s south side under a new three-year agreement that is currently being finalized with South Bend Venues Parks & Arts.

Beacon Health & Fitness will remain open to members through May 31. The YMCA says members of Beacon Health & Fitness South Bend who wish to maintain access to a downtown fitness facility will receive an exclusive invitation to join the YMCA.

South Bend city employees will also be eligible for discounted memberships at the new facility.

Fitness

Cultiva La Salud offers free fitness dance classes for Parlier community

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Press Room

Cultiva La Salud offers free fitness dance classes for Parlier community

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — A local organization is taking action to improve the well-being of Latinas in rural areas of Fresno County.

Cultiva La Salud is now offering fitness classes in Parlier.

Get ready to move and groove! You also don’t want to forget a towel because the class will have you sweating.

“These classes combine cardio and dance,” explained Evelyn Morales, project coordinator.

The non-profit is partnering with Parlier Unified to host the free classes to Latinas in the community.

“Community members living in the rural areas of Fresno County have high incidence rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, just to name a few,” Morales said. “This can be attributed to limited opportunity to engage in physical activity.”

Cultiva La Salud wants to offer a safe and fun way to promote healthy and active living.

According to Morales, taking part in physical activity regularly can help maintain good cardiovascular health.

The goal is to expand the fitness classes to other rural communities, such as Orange Cove.

“We really want to mobilize and encourage community members to participate in these classes because it is available to them at no cost,” she said.

The fitness dance classes happen every Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Parlier High School’s cafeteria.

Children 10 years or older can join, but no child care is available for younger kids.

Registration is required.

Information can be found on Cultiva La Salud’s Facebook.

For news updates, follow Amanda Aguilar on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Fitness

Study indicates ‘best time’ for people with obesity to exercise

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Press Room

Study indicates ‘best time’ for people with obesity to exercise

Last year, a study revealed that the best time of day to exercise depends on your goals, and new research published this month (April 10^th, to be precise) concurs.

The journal, Diabetes Care, took data from nearly 30,000 people with obesity, 10 per cent of whom who also had type 2 diabetes, and the authors found that participants who performed exercise at night had the lowest risk of heart disease and premature death than those who did not. Said participants performed aerobic exercise between 6pm and midnight.

It’s not clear why working out at night may be beneficial, but the research suggests that it could lead to lower glucose levels in the morning, thereby potentially providing metabolic benefits.

‘While we need to do further research to establish causal links, this study suggests that the timing of physical activity could be an important part of the recommendations for future obesity and type 2 diabetes management, and preventive healthcare in general,’ study author Emmanuel Stamatakis, PhD, professor of physical activity, lifestyle, and population health at the University of Sydney, said in a press release.

The findings are worth noting if you, or someone you know, has type 2 diabetes or obesity, but know that it’s not the be all and end all if a 6pm-12pm workout timeframe doesn’t work for you.

The NHS advises 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity. It’s also recommended to spread this over four-five days per week. If evening exercise doesn’t work for you, remember that, ultimately, what matters is that you cement a sustainable, regular exercise routine that works with your lifestyle.