Taking Shape: New Fitness Director Pumps Up James City ...

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Written by Brandy Centolanza

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Ellen Womeldorf, James City County?s new health and wellness coordinator, hopes the addition of new recreation classes and programs will draw more members.

New offerings at the James City Recreation Center include kettlebell, Zumba and hip hop line dancing, a class inspired by someone who spoke with Womeldorf about how much fun she had while dancing at a wedding.

?Listening to patrons is key,? says Womeldorf, who came aboard in August and relies in part on comment cards from members to determine what she?ll do next. ?We have to listen to the patrons and find out what they want and then at least try it. I like to try new things. Some may not necessarily work.?

Classes such as kettlebell and Zumba do appear to be working, though, and have started attracting a younger demographic to the recreation center.

?We have people in their 60s and people in their 20s doing kettlebell,? says Womeldorf. ?People are warming up to it. It is something I like to do as an exercise because it is very functional. With Zumba, it seems like people want to work out but they also want to have fun and it is something that is fun.?

By request, evening and Saturday morning classes have been expanded. Child care is now provided in the evenings so that working moms and dads can exercise during the week. Other class offerings include kickboxing, strength training, yoga, boot camp and 20/20/20?an hour-long combination workout with 20 minutes intervals of aerobics, strength training and abs. In addition to hip hop line dancing, adult dance classes in belly dancing, tap, ballet and jazz are also on the schedule.

Classes traditionally have been held in the?dance studio, but now members may find themselves sweating it out elsewhere as well, either in the gym or outside, weather permitting.

?I like to change things up,? Womeldorf says. ?I?m open to whatever I can find that will appeal to our patrons, and where we will have space to pull it off.?

Thanks to Womeldorf, more courses are also being held at James River Community Center in Grove, Freedom Park and DJ Montague Elementary School. Teachers are encouraged to work out after school before heading home for the day.

?People can do a lot more than what they think they can do, more than what they give themselves credit for.?

Now that the weather is warming up, folks can expect even more workout options outside, especially in Freedom Park (located off Centerville Road). An adventure boot camp is slated for the park in May, along with an ultra trail race, the Singletrack Maniac 50k Trail Run. Pilates and kids? fitness camps will also be offered at Freedom Park in the spring and summer months.

Womeldorf, a cross country coach at Lafayette High School and former personal trainer for Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group (TPMG) and the Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex (WISC), has also lined up speakers to discuss various health topics, from nutrition to running mechanics. She hopes to continue to encourage people to get fit and stay fit.

?People can do a lot more than what they think they can do, more than what they give themselves credit for,? she says. ?People say they can?t do something because their knees may hurt or because they are too busy, but there is always a way.?

That?s where she comes in.

?My goal here is to keep people who are coming here coming back,? she says. ?I am open to doing some creative things, to get people outside. We have some fantastic parks and people appreciate creativity. I like to provide things that are cutting edge so that people don?t feel like they have to go somewhere else to work out. People also just want to have a good time when they work out, so if you make it like a party, then why not??

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Source: http://www.thehealthjournals.com/2013/04/james-city-county-fitness-director/

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