Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all Town of Hempstead residents a happy and healthy New Year.
With every New Year, we often make resolutions. One of the most common goals, especially after the holidays when we all tend to eat more than usual, is to get in shape. In the Town of Hempstead we are very fortunate to have many parks and recreation programs that will help residents do just that, not only during the winter months but also throughout the year.
Newly added to last year’s schedule, Zumba is an international dance party. This exciting fitness class features music from around the globe and dance styles ranging from Latin to hip-hop. Zumba is a cardio class that will sustain your heart rate at a healthy level and endorse weight loss and lean muscle sculpting. This program is held at Echo Park in West Hempstead, Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse in Merrick and this year also at Lido Town Park in Lido Beach. In-person registration for Echo Park will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 7:30–8:30 p.m.; and registration for Merrick Road Clubhouse is on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Registration for Lido Town Park will take place on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
The fundamentals of Pilates focus on improving flexibility and strength for the total body through controlled movements, engaging your body and mind. Classes are held at Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse in Merrick. In-person registration is on Monday, Jan. 24 from 7-8 p.m. at Merrick Road Clubhouse.
Our Total Body Program is an exercise program for women designed to firm and tone muscles. Cardio, strengthening and mat exercises are featured. This program is held all year at Echo Park in West Hempstead and in the winter/spring at Echo Park in West Hempstead; Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse; and Levittown Hall in Hicksville. In-person registration for Merrick Road Clubhouse will take place on Monday, Jan. 24 from 7-8 p.m. Registration for the Echo Park classes, both the 2011 all year program and the winter/spring program, will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 9:30–10:30 a.m. Registration for Levittown Hall will take place on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 10-11 a.m.
Women may also be interested in our Low-Impact Aerobics classes, designed to firm and tone muscles and increase cardiovascular efficiency. This program is held at Echo Park, Forest City Park in Wantagh; Levittown Hall; Baldwin Park; Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse; and Smith Street Park in Uniondale. Registration for the Echo Park classes will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Forest City Park registration will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.; and registration at Levittown Hall will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 10-11 a.m. Baldwin Park registration will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 7-8 p.m. Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse registration will take place on Monday, Jan. 24 from 7-8 p.m.; and Smith Street Park registration will take place on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 7-8 p.m.
Body sculpting classes include toning and stretching with light weights and resistance bands. This program is held at Echo Park and Merrick Road Golf Clubhouse. Registration for the Echo Park class will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Registration for the Saturday class at Echo Park will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7-8 p.m. Registration for the Merrick Road Golf Clubhouse class will be held on Monday, Jan. 24 from 7-8 p.m.
Our elite Shape-Up Time program is a great opportunity for men, 18 years of age and older, to either improve or maintain their physical condition. This program is held at Echo Park all year round on Sundays and Wednesdays. Registration for both classes will take place on Sunday, Jan. 23 from 9-10 a.m.
Considered the first style of yoga, Kundalini Yoga lessons for adults is a unique system which combines breathing, movement, meditation, stretching, relaxation, rhythm and chanting to work on the mind, body and spirit. This program will be held at both Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse and Echo Park.
Registration at Merrick Road Park will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Registration at Echo Park will be held on Friday, Jan. 28 from 10-11 a.m. for the morning class and on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for the evening class.
Kripalu Yoga for adults teaches gentle yoga postures and conscious breathing. This program is held at Echo Park and Levittown Hall. Registration at Echo Park will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and registration at Levittown Hall will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 9-10 a.m.
The Tai Chi program is designed to take you on a journey of meditative movement, gently guiding you on a path of well being and inner peace. This program will be held at Echo Park. Registration will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 1-2 p.m., for day classes and 8:30-9:30 p.m. for evening classes at Echo Park.
Our Karate/Self-Defense program is an excellent beginner’s course for men, women, boys and girls in the fundamentals of karate and self-defense. This program is held at Echo Park, Harold Walker Park in Lakeview and Smith Street Park in Uniondale. Registration for Echo Park will be held on Friday, Jan. 28 from 6-7 p.m. Harold Walker Park registration will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 7-8 p.m.; and Smith Street Park registration will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 7-8 p.m.
Kickboxing is a fun and exciting way to get into shape as you learn various punching and kicking combinations. This program is held at Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse and at Echo Park. Registration for Merrick Road Park Golf Clubhouse will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7:30-8:30 p.m.; and registration for Echo Park will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7– 8 p.m.
Aqua-Exercise is a water resistive exercise program for men and women, 18 years of age and over, conducted in waist-high water. The sessions are designed to tone muscles and increase cardiovascular circulation. This class is held at Echo Park and participants must hold an Echo Park pool pass for the season or year, or will be required to pay the daily admission rate. Registration for the day classes will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 8-9 a.m.; and registration for the evening class will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 8-9 p.m.
To obtain further information about registration and program locations, times and costs for any of these fitness programs, please contact the Town of Hempstead Department of Parks and Recreation at 516-292-9000.
Again, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year and the best of luck in achieving all your goals for the coming year.
