Fitting In

Fitting In

COMMUNITY BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL

Every year, “lose weight” and “get healthy” rank in the upper echelon of popular new year resolutions. But as many know, those goals can be hard to stick with.

The Station at Central Park in Moore is looking to change that in 2020.

The Station is dedicated to building strong social communities while fostering healthy lifestyle choices year-round.

This isn’t your ordinary gym. In addition to a large fitness area equipped with everything from free weights to cardio and conditioning machines, the 53,000 square foot family recreation center boasts group exercise rooms, a state-of-the-art spin studio, an indoor walking track, two full-sized basketball courts and four half-courts.

But the real magic is in the wide variety of community-based classes and activities that promote healthy choices and positive growth for all ages.

Unlike most gyms, The Station is designed for all ages and offers classes, such as FIT Kids and Zumba for Kids. Geared toward kids age 7 to 12, classes feature entertaining music, foundational fitness and dance moves.

“FIT Kids is about promoting activity for kids, kind of like a P.E. class,” said Brighton Cargal, fitness coordinator at The Station.

On the other hand, “Zumba Kids is essentially the same thing as an adult Zumba class, but geared toward kids,” Cargal said. “They play kid-centered music with driving beats, promoting a fun and creative atmosphere for the kids to dance.”

For adults, there are a variety of group fitness favorites to choose from, including yoga, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and spin classes, as well as self-defense, martial arts and dance classes.

The Station’s Fitness in the Park series takes participants out of the group class setting, Cargal said.

Kicking off the Fitness in the Park series in 2020 is the “Fun”damentals Boot Camp. The outdoor class takes place at Buck Thomas Park, 1903 NE 12th St, and provides a fun challenge with drills, plyometrics, agilities and intervals of strength training and cardio, Cargal said.

For those who prefer the team experience, The Station operates two adult sports leagues: men’s basketball and co-ed adult indoor volleyball. League registration for both leagues is open Jan. 1 – Feb. 21, and regular league play begins in March.

Whatever age, fitness level or interests, the one constant is that leading a healthy lifestyle begins with the food that people eat.

But, understanding and developing healthy eating habits isn’t always easy. This is where practical classes about nutrition and food can be beneficial.

A registered dietician leads The Station’s weekly nutrition classes designed to help participants learn how to make the right food choices.

Beyond learning basic nutrition, participants learn about their own body’s reactions to foods, the best ways to fuel their body, how to use nutrition to lose weight, gain strength and feel better overall, she said

“The dietician is someone people can come to and ask questions in a group setting,” Cargal said.

“They don’t have to go to the doctor for that information. They can learn it at The Station from someone who is registered and capable of answering their questions.”

The Station’s nutrition classes provide practical advice and hands-on training. Participants learn things like how to shop for healthy foods, how to meal prep and even get cooking tips and some healthy but tasty recipes to try at home.

“The dietician does cooking demonstrations, so they’re able to see those applications in practice rather than just hearing a lecture on it,” Cargal said.

For more information about The Station at Central Park, visit www.thestation. com.– 19SM