A recent cycle class at Lake Bluff Health and Fitness. Lake Bluff Park District hosts its first annual GO Fitness Festival January 12.
We are now five days into 2019. How are those New Year’s resolutions coming? If you need a little help sticking to those goals, the Lake Bluff Park District is hosting its first annual GO Fitness Festival on January 12.
Fitness festivities kick off at Lake Bluff Recreation Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon with free samples, special deals and a free raffle of health and fitness gifts from local shops. Lake Bluff Park District Fitness Center Supervisor Cati Christensen says the goal is to increase awareness of how easy it is to get out and walk and to make better food choices.
The idea for the free community event grew out of the park district’s participation in GO Lake County, a community walking initiative that encourages residents to embrace a habit of walking in local neighborhoods for 30 minutes a day.
Booths at the festival will include representatives from Be Market, Heinen’s grocery store, Lake Bluff Nordic Ski Club, Lake Bluff Hub & Cycle and Lake Bluff Health and Fitness.
“The people that we have involved in this event are all Lake Bluff residents or businesses,” explains Christensen.
Vade Sankar, owner of Be Market, says his shop will share samples of various
smoothies, a green detox juice drink, a turmeric sweet potato spinach soup and
a chai tea latte. Sankar will also offer information on a three-day cleanse that he says he’s found very helpful.
“We will be sharing health information about a plant-based diet and nutrition.
My focus is organic foods — healthy superfoods, pre- and post-athletic natural options,” he says. “It did amazing things for me, so it’s an opportunity to share that with the community.”
There will also be sample yoga, spin and total fitness classes throughout the morning. Lake Bluff Health and Fitness will have a membership special available, waiving the $75 registration fee for people who join that day.
Cheryl Brown is teaching a fitness class at the festival for Lake Bluff Health and Fitness, where she works. “It’s a good time of year to do it, to kind of jump- start your year,” Brown says. “If you’re looking for an alternative to some of the bigger gyms, Lake Bluff is a nice, comfortable place. It’s very down-to-earth.”
Also participating is Flotstone, a floatation therapy center. Flotstone founder Patrick McMurray says they’re a natural complement to athletic activity.
“Fitness people in general really do well when incorporating float therapy,” he says. “With fitness, it does play a huge role.”
Flotstone is contributing a gift to the festival’s free raffle. Other donors include Bluffington’s Cafe, Hansa Coffee Roasters, Inovasi, Pasquesi’s Home and Garden, Otherdoor and Lake Forest Book Store.
Other things to look for next weekend include:
*Heinen’s will have a table with samples of organic snacks and fresh produce including apples and oranges.
* Lake Bluff Nordic Ski Club will have tips and information on Lake Bluff Golf Club’s cross-country ski trails and, if there’s snow, maybe even a test run.
* Lake Bluff Hub & Cycle will be showcasing products from their shop and providing information about upcom- ing events.
* Reike Specialist Daphne Johnson will be offering information on Reiki— the incredible discipline that helps cleanse your body and further your spiritual under- standing of yourself and the world around you.
Guests can also learn more about one of the fastest growing sports around — Pickleball — and watch the exclusive video, A Day in the Life of Lake Bluff Fitness Center that showcases the many ways to a healthier lifestyle.
For more information about this free festival, call 847-234-4150.
