ONTARIO, Ohio – OhioHealth’s Ontario Health & Fitness Center aims to help jump-start fitness resolutions this new year with an open house lasting through Jan. 10.
It’s the first time the fitness center has offered an open house lasting an entire week, according supervisor Emily Freeman. The Health & Fitness Center is located in the OhioHealth Wellness Complex at 1750 W. Fourth St. in Ontario.
“We know with the new year everyone has those resolutions in mind, so we’re hoping people check out our facility and see what we have to offer,” Freeman said. “Whether it’s a membership or different programs we do, this gives them a little taste of it for free — and maybe there’s something they want to look into down the road.”
For the week of the open house, non-members are invited to test the facilities and equipment, attend group exercise classes and experience other membership privileges at no cost.
The Health & Fitness Center offers all the benefits of a gym membership, with access to a wide variety of exercise machines on the fitness floor and a line-up of classes including circuit training, kick-fit and yoga. However, Freeman noted knowledge is a big benefit of a fitness center within the OhioHealth network.
“We have trainers here all the time with at least a four-year degree in some sort of exercise field, so they know what they’re doing and they do it really safe,” Freeman said. “There’s always someone here to help you and a lot of ways to get involved and engaged.
“You’re not just here renting equipment, you’re actually getting the education and tools and tips you need.”
The center also offers a community weight management program called “Why Weight?” Freeman explained the program is designed to help individuals achieve healthy, long-term weight loss through education, exercise and support.
“It’s to get people on the road to maintaining and losing the weight they made for their New Year’s resolution,” she said.
The “Why Weight?” program meets Monday evenings through March 28, and participants can join the program at any time. Free trial classes will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 18.
A wide variety of individuals attend the Health & Fitness Center, though Freeman noted the center does have a special niche for the elderly. To that end, the center also offers a “Delay the Disease” exercise program designed to delay the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms.
“People with Parkinson’s typically shuffle, so we work on taking big steps,” explained Freeman. “In the class we do a lot of yelling because with Parkinson’s everything gets small and quiet, and we do a lot of big handwriting instead of tiny handwriting that Parkinson’s patients typically get.”
Other classes available for the elderly population include a balance training class to prevent falls, and an “Aqua Arthritis” class that meets in the center’s warm therapy pool to help strengthen muscles and relieve joint pain and stiffness.
For those of all ages striving to keep their New Year resolutions, Freeman advised building on small lifestyle changes instead of going through a major fitness overhaul at the beginning of the year.
“With the New Year it’s a fresh start and a clean state and that gives people hope that they can start over, so we like to jump on that bandwagon and give people a lot of tools,” she said. “But it’s an ongoing process; there’s nothing magical about the first of the year but in a lot of people’s minds they’ve decided that’s when they’re going to do it.”
For more information about the classes and benefits offered at the OhioHealth Ontario Health & Fitness Center, call 419-526-8900.
