Park district to offer open house, discounted prices
Whether you're calling it a resolution, a goal or just a good idea, you can keep your fitness promise in 2008 with a little help from the Bensenville Park District.
All fitness classes are offered free of charge Monday through Jan. 11. Participants can sample Pilates, yoga, X-biking, boxing and Latin dance, to name a few.
The free week culminates in the annual Bensenville Park District Wellness Fair and Open House Jan. 12, where residents can talk with vendors and health practitioners, as well as take advantage of the discounted purchase price of $110 for a one-year park district membership.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to speak with State Sen. Carol Pankau, who plans to attend and offer information of interest to seniors.
"We're offering all types of therapies for people with any kind of health issue or wellness concern," said Lauri Page, park district fitness supervisor.
"We're including many alternative therapies this year because there are treatments they can offer that western medicine is not set up for. They provide a different education on health matters and concentrate on healing from the inside out, not just dealing with symptoms."
Traditional health fair offerings include blood pressure and body fat testing, hearing testing, smoking cessation information, nutrition counseling and information for seniors on housing, home care and health issues.
Non-traditional therapies will include hypnotherapy for weight loss and smoking, a biofeedback machine for relaxation training, ion cleansing and antioxidant testing.
All park district memberships are discounted that day, with fees substantially reduced. In addition to discounts for adults, youth memberships are priced at $60, seniors at $53 and couples memberships at $213, down from $253.
Page predicts the park district will sell 25 percent of its yearly memberships Jan. 12.
"Last year, we sold about 350 memberships in four hours," she said.
Page said the park district sponsors the yearly open house because of the fitness push at the beginning of the year.
"We want to give people the opportunity to start out right. After Christmas it's a hard time financially for everyone. We're trying to help people out financially and with their fitness, as well.
"This is traditionally a time when we start new classes, and offer different programs designed to promote health. Money should not be an issue when it comes to your health."
To underscore her point, Page says participants will be able to try before they buy in 2008.
"You can take two free classes in every program we offer. You can try anything in the house that you want. We want people to try everything at least once. Our main focus is to keep fitness interesting and fun. We are convinced there is something in this building for people at every fitness level," she said.
In addition to the open house, LifeSource will host a blood drive at the park district between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
"The blood drive brings a lot of people that day as well. It's close to home and people are still in the giving mode after the holidays. Last year our blood drive collected 23 pints," Page added.
Whether you're looking to give or receive, you can attend the Bensenville Park District Open House or call Page for details at (630) 766-7015, ext. 106.