Mundelein Park District offers Hero Workouts for veterans

Mundelein Park & Recreation District's Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies team is offering free Friday Hero Workouts to all veterans who have a Regent Center or NovaCare Fitness membership.

The group fitness class is from noon to 12:50 p.m. Fridays through March 20 at the Mundelein Community Center. The 50-minute workout varies each week and includes an occasional yoga practice. No registration is required, but veterans should arrive at 11:50 a.m. and check in at the front desk.

"These workouts are an opportunity for veterans to build camaraderie while improving strength, balance and range of motion," said Christine Lopez, Mundelein Park District's Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies coordinator.

"The laughter, dancing, singing and, of course, working out in the studio is an illustration of how much everyone enjoys the workouts. This is one way the park district reaches out to veterans to help them transition back into the community as a civilian, through fitness."

Mundelein Park District's Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies program offers two free, one-year memberships to NovaCare Fitness Center: one for the veteran and one for a workout partner. Also included are up to 15 free personal training sessions and monthly networking opportunities.

In order to qualify as a participant in the program, a veteran needs:

• Honorable/medical discharge on DD214;

• 10 percent disability rating or higher assigned by the VA;

• Disability rating applied for, in medical review or under appeal;

• Nonservice connected injury, note from your civilian doctor, or a general endorsement from a VA counselor, VOC/PVA representative.

For more information on Friday Hero Workouts or the Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies program, contact Lopez at clopez@mundeleinparks.org or (847) 388-5439.