The department is hosting an array of activities to get residents in shape after the holidays.
By: Amy Filippone
Dept. of Parks & Recreation
The Moorestown Department of Parks & Recreation is hosting an array of 2018 adult fitness programs and special needs holiday parties.
Family Support Outing — Special Needs Holiday Party
Special Needs children and families are invited to our yearly Holiday Party on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The rec. will be hopping with a DJ, craft, pizza and holiday fun. Please visit our website at www.moorestownrec.com for registration and further details.
Exit 4 Boot Camp
Everyone wants to start the New Year on a re-focused and healthy path. Moorestown’s Department of Parks & Recreation can help you melt away some holiday weight and possibly make some new friends at the same time. Whether you enjoy a team environment or the solitary bliss of yoga poses, there’s something for everyone.
One of the best-kept secrets in town is Exit 4 Boot Camp. Check out this challenging and rewarding fitness program. Classes are offered in the mornings, Monday through Saturday. You can attend as many classes as you want for $30 per month (non-residents pay $50). Registration is monthly, with no long-term commitment.
The price isn’t the biggest selling point. Exit 4 classes are designed to keep your mind and body engaged. Workout offerings include: circuit training, high intensity interval training (HIIT), Tabata, kickboxing and yoga. A combination of body weight moves and equipment are used, including: ropes, dumbbells, hurdles, kettle bells, bosus, bands, rings, balls, floor ladders, weighted bars and more! Don’t be intimidated by the “Boot Camp” in the name. All workouts and moves can be modified to accommodate people of different fitness levels (beginner to advanced) and ages (men & women, 16–65+). The average class size is 25, but classes vary from 10 to 40 people.
But Boot Camp Exit 4 is way more than numbers and equipment. Max Ingram has been attending boot camp workouts since Exit 4’s inception.
“I’ve been coming for four or five years at least,” Ingram said. “A group of friends started getting together to exercise at a friend’s house. There were only 7 to 10 people at the time. In January 2014, renovations to the Church Street Recreation Center were completed, and Exit 4 Boot Camp moved into the building. From that point forward, the program and participation grew organically into what it is today. It wasn’t forced — it was just meeting people’s needs exercise-wise as well as socially. The social component keeps people coming back.”
Per Max, the makeup of the class is also quite unique.
“Most exercise classes I’ve seen are 70 to 80 percent female,” Ingram said. “Exit 4 has a 50/50 male to female ratio. It breaks the mold in a lot of different ways. It attracts people across so many different lines.”
Exit 4 exemplifies how impactful the shared experience is when it comes to exercise.
“It’s an exercise class but it’s so much more,” Ingram said. “It’s more of a community that engages people of all fitness levels and encourages one another to achieve their goals. Because people are so committed to the program and the torture of the workout there’s a real camaraderie about that.”
There is no typical boot camper.
“We have people who are marathoners, people who are coming off the couch and everything in between,” Ingram said. “Rich and the other Exit 4 trainers are masters at designing workouts. Every routine and move can be modified to be made easier for those just starting or more complicated for those who are more advanced.”
And the Exit 4 community is connected through exercise in a way that impacts their lives well beyond the workout. They have a private Facebook page where they share funny things, revelations about form or, if someone is ill, making meals for them.
Max said just this past week, “somebody went in for cancer surgery and we held a special boot camp workout to encourage and support her.”
Take a moment to consider joining this exercise program where “community is as big a component, if not bigger, than simply exercise. There’s a lot of love and care and encouragement,” Ingram said.
Pickleball
Pickleball will continue through the winter during the day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 pm. You can sign up for one, two or all three days. Pickleball will also be offered in the evenings on Tuesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. This is a fast-growing sport that is easy to learn and action-packed. It’s one of those sports where you’re so engaged you lose track of time — perfect for winter doldrums.
Yoga
Yoga will also continue on Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. starting Jan. 4. Yoga is something we all should be doing to stay flexible and strong. Yoga made simple in a very friendly atmosphere — once a week for eight weeks. Try it and reap the benefits.
Adult Co-Ed Volleyball
Adult co-ed volleyball begins Jan. 11 for 16 weeks on Thursdays from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Moorestown High School. It might not be on the beach, but it will certainly get you ready to be on the sand in a few months time.
Please go to www.moorestownrec.com for details and to register.
