Lombard Park District showcases health and fitness programs

The beginning of January is a time when many people show a renewed interest in health and physical fitness.

The Lombard Park District tried to capitalize on that interest Sunday when it held its annual Health Fair and Fitness Expo.

The district showed off a variety of its fitness programs during the fair. In addition, vendors and wellness groups set up booths inside the Sunset Knoll Recreation Center to promote their products.

“This is the time of year when people are interested in fitness and wellness, so it’s a good time for us to show what we do in that area,” said Debbie Whitcher, aquatic/facilities manager at the park district.

Visitors to Sunday’s health fair got a chance to explore yoga, tai chi and zumba classes. They also learned about new park district offerings like Teen Zumba, Yoga Dance and Nordic Walking, which is a type of fitness walking in which the participant uses specially designed poles.

Whitcher said the district has been holding the fair for about 18 years. It’s an effective way to introduce residents to the park district’s programs, she said.

“It’s great for our new programs, especially,” she said.

The event has also been a good one for people like Janet Jackson of Villa Park, who attended Sunday to promote Juice Plus, a line of fruit-and-vegetable-based dietary supplements.

“I love talking about the importance of what we put into our bodies,” Jackson said. “And I tend to get a very receptive crowd here.”

For information about the Lombard Park District’s fitness programs, go to lombardparks.org.