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| Health - Keeping Fit in the Lake Area |
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| 05/21/2009 |
by: The Jambalaya News |
With the United States in the grip of a global economic recession, many Americans are looking for relief in one form or another. One way many people are finding solace is through sweat.
According to a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times, gym and fitness club membership has soared as people look to work out the stresses of their everyday lives. Many who have lost jobs in the last year are still searching for work and, with an abundance of free time on their hands, some of the unemployed are finding release from the job search at the gym.
For many though, the cost of a gym membership can be prohibitive, but that doesn’t mean the healthy benefits of regular exercise are out of reach. Locally, there are a multitude of ways to stay fit without wringing out the pocketbook.
Tennis, anyone?
Tennis is one way locals are finding an athletic outlet. According to an article on the Tennis Week Web site, people who participate in tennis at a moderate pace for at least three hours a week reduced their risk of death by any cause in half.
The Lake Area Community Tennis Program is hosting a beginner’s tennis program for adults beginning May 9. The cost of the program is $30 and is open to adults 19 years of age and older. The class will be held in six weekly sessions from May 9-June 13 with the first two held at the Lake Charles Racquet Club, the next two at Graywood Country Club and the last two at the McNeese State University tennis courts. A registration flyer is available at the Racquet Club.
“Tennis is a great balance of physical play,” said Johan Kjellsten, Southwest Louisiana representative for the United States Tennis Association. “You’ve get the cardio aspect from running as well as you build strength in the legs and upper body. It’s an outdoor sport that has very little downtime. It keeps you active. It’s a great way to keep lean and fit.”
Kjellsten said the community tennis program in the Lake Area is not only one of the fastest growing programs in the South, but also a great way to stay in shape while saving money.
“It’s a great value,” Kjellsten said of the program. “There’s no membership requirement and it gives everybody, regardless of playing level, instruction with qualified coaches that they can take to the public courts. It can help bring families together; it’s great family fun.
“You get six lessons of two hours for five bucks each. That’s what people are looking for in these times. It makes it easier to learn than just picking up a racquet and going out and trying to hit tennis balls. The element of instruction is there,” he added.
Just run
Simply running can also be a great way of staying in shape and, beyond a good pair of sneakers, is practically free of charge. The city of Lake Charles offers the casual runner an abundance of places to run, whether on the street in your neighborhood or down at the nearest local park.
There are also options for runners who seek a more organized and competitive atmosphere.
Lake Area Runners, a group of local running enthusiasts, sanctions and volunteers at local racing events and also promotes the sport of running. A yearly membership with the group costs $20 and includes discounts to Athlete’s Corner and on entry fees to local races. The group is sanctioning the Contraband Days 5-Miler race coming up on May 9.
For beginning runners, the group’s Web site also offers tips from healthy stretching and exercising while pregnant to tips on running with your dog and eliminating athlete’s foot.
Another local running group, Go Run LA, is offering a training program for beginning and experienced runners as well as walkers.
The Spring 5K and 10K training program is designed to build strength in beginning runners while building on base miles for more advanced athletes. The cost of the program is $100 for 19 weeks of training and is for people of all levels of fitness.
Between tuition, books and other expenses, most college students are, traditionally, strapped for cash. But, for McNeese State students, having limited finances doesn’t mean they can’t stay healthy.
Students with a valid university identification card are allowed full use of the university’s on-campus recreational complex. The building provides many amenities, including basketball, volleyball and badminton courts; an indoor-outdoor swimming pool; a wellness center with aerobics and a weight room; an indoor track and a racquetball court.
Faculty and staff and their dependents can use the complex for $20 per semester while the university offers single and joint memberships to alumni.
For more information regarding the Community Tennis Program, contact Johan Kjellsten at kjellsten@suddenlink.net or the Lake Charles Racquet Club. Lake Area Runners and Go Run LA can be visited at www.eteamz.com/LakeAreaRunners and www.gorunla.com respectively.
By Brandon Shoumaker
Source: The Jambalaya News
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