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Recreation

Local Resources Helping You Stay Active
The Sycamore area is filled with excellent health and fitness resources offering unique programs that help get people started on a new fitness regimen and stay committed to leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

Kishwaukee Family YMCA
The Kishwaukee Family YMCA has grown tremendously over the last 50-plus years. There have been changes in the community it serves, changes in its name and changes in its location and facilities. Even with these transformations, the YMCA has remained committed to its founding purpose of promoting the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of its members.

"Members join the YMCA to meet a wide variety of personal goals and know the YMCA staff, programs, services and facilities are designed to help them get there,” explained Debbie Madeley, membership development and marketing director at the Kishwaukee Family Y. “With obesity levels already at an alarming rate, and diabetes on the rise, the YMCA is in a unique position to make a positive impact on the community.”

One of the Y’s more unique programs is Commit to be Fit, a free eight-week motivational program designed to address the emotional obstacles preventing people from making health a habit and help members find a place to start in the journey of improving their health and wellness. Commit to be Fit is a National YMCA program offering individualized guidance and workouts with a Fit Coach over a three-month period. The program also includes a small group motivation and exercise program, along with follow-ups to ensure participants remain on the right track.

The Y is also committed to increasing health and awareness in youth. Among the many notable youth fitness programs is the PreGym programs for toddlers and preschoolers, which works to develop physical and social skills through a variety of fun activities. Fit Kids keeps children aged seven through 10 active through games including basketball, soccer, kickball and circuits. Youth also participate in programs focused on the martial arts, strength training, dance, tumbling, gymnastics and more.

Sycamore Park District
Like the Y, the Sycamore Park District provides a full list of programs, services and facilities utilized by active community members of all ages. The park district currently maintains more than 320 existing acres of parkland within 19 park sites, which includes neighborhood parks, community parks, athletic fields, wetlands, woodlands and preserved natural areas. In addition, the park district operates the Sycamore Golf Club, a community pool and the 5,800-square-foot Community Center, a highly utilized facility housing the park district’s weight room, cardio room and a multipurpose room, which handles the fitness/aerobics and multipurpose classes.

As for the programming, youth and preschoolers enjoy the Little Tumblers gymnastics program and a range of activities through such programs as Shake, Rattle & Roll and Stay & Play, which keep kids moving through dancing, singing, playing games and more. Adults are afforded a number of options for staying active and motivated. The park district’s Zumba class is a unique cardio dance fitness program based on Latin and “World” rhythms. The Spin and Yoga For Life classes are made possible through a partnership between the park district and the local school district. The high school fieldhouse hosts the classes and equipment, while the park district organizes the class schedules. “Because we have teamed up, the park district has the ability to offer two excellent programs, which ultimately benefit our community,” said Greg Gola, superintendent of recreation at the park district.

Gola continued, saying, “Along with these programs, I believe our other fitness programs provide their own brand of uniqueness because of the individuals who teach them. These instructors are highly motivated to make sure participants accomplish their fitness goals.”

FitWorkz
FitWorkz opened its current location in neighboring DeKalb in February of 2009. Its 15,000-square-foot facility makes FitWorkz the largest health club in the area. According to Ray Binkowski, owner and trainer, “We go beyond the ‘usual’ health club experience by offering amenities like tanning, massage and an expanded list of cutting-edge group exercise programs.”

In addition to these features, FitWorkz provides several exclusive programs for members. It was the first health club in the area to offer STOTT Pilates, both mat and reformer modalities, and provides a 16 Week Success program that is free to new members. In this program, new members are set up with a personal trainer four times each month for the first four months. “The program offers everything from a training program, instruction on how to do the program, accountability and, most importantly, results,” said Binkowski. “We have even watched a 79-year-old lady lose four dress sizes in four months with this program!”

Sycamore Jazzercise Fitness Center
Jazzercise has been a popular fitness program for more than 50 years, combining the elements of aerobics, jazz dance, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing and strength training. The Sycamore Jazzercise Fitness Center is a newer addition to Sycamore’s fitness offerings and provides more than 20 classes each week. “Jazzercise not only works the body, but also the mind,” explained Laurie Dougherty, owner and instructor at the Sycamore Jazzercise Fitness Center. “The motivation of working out with 20 other women, having fun, laughing and making lots of noise makes it possible to burn up to 650 calories in a short hour.”

The center also offers Junior Jazzercise for kids ages six to 11. Young participants improve their coordination, strength and endurance and nutrition through this program, which ultimately strives to instill the importance of physical fitness in daily life.

Besides the great programming in class—which includes themed classes from time to time—Sycamore Jazzercise participates in various community outreach events, including Relay for Life, Corn Fest and the Pumpkin Fest parade.