A study by the Centers for Disease Control found that people who exercised just 20 minutes once a week were significantly less likely to call in sick than non-exercisers. Brisk walking, biking, or swimming, are excellent for elevating the heart rate and lowering the risk of obesity and diabetes, if done regularly.
Recreation offers two weekly self-led walking groups, a weekly biking group and a variety of water fitness classes to help you get regular physical activity.
The Walk With Us group, for ages 50 and older, walks for better health Thursday mornings. They meet in the lobby of Petersen Barn Community Center, 870 Berntzen Rd., at 9:30 a.m. and walk around the neighborhood for about an hour.
The Walk ’n’ Talkers group, for ages 18 and older, meets at Campbell Community Center, 155 High St., at 9 a.m. Friday mornings and walks 3-5 miles at a quick pace. The route varies and may have hills or rough pavement. The group walks rain or shine, year-round. This group usually stops for coffee along the way. Both walking groups are drop in; registration not required.
On Wednesdays mornings, bike riders depart rain and shine from Campbell Center at 10:30 for in-town rides. Rides vary in length and time depending on ability. Helmets are required; weekly attendance is not. The rides are drop-in; registration is not required.
In addition to daily laps swims, water fitness classes are offered at a variety times throughout the week at Sheldon and Echo Hollow Pools. From Cardio Challenge in deep water to Shallow Water aerobics, water fitness is a low-intensity exercise that uses the resistance of the water to provide a good workout. Classes are ongoing; registration is not required. Fees are $3.75 a visit or $41 for a 30 day pass.
For more information, call Petersen Barn (541-682-5521), Campbell Center (541-682-5318), Echo Hollow Pool (541-682-5525) or Sheldon Pool (541-682-5314).