Personal Trainer Amy Jones of  Where Is The Work-Out, began offering Cardio Kickboxing classes at 8:00 a.m. Saturdays, starting in early February 2008. All the rage at fitness centers around the country, this workout borrows moves from the Thai sport of kickboxing to make participants work up a sweat. Amy leads the group through some warm-up stretches and then through specific punches and kicks, usually to the beat of dance-club music. The effect is an hour of moderate cardio exercise that improves overall fitness and flexibility and can be part of a weight loss strategy. The class was offer as part of the city-wide Fitness Challenge at Community Development Recreation (CD-REC) on Bank Street. The Challenge offers low-impact aerobic classes at the Diabetes Association, Inc, Zumba classes, senior stretching, and personal training, as well as nutrition classes throughout the week. Participants can also use the pool at the Boys and Girls club on Bedford Street during specified hours. Participants are eligible to win prizes through drawings held throughout the Challenge. Click here for photos of the press event announcing the Challenge. Click here for the Herald News article about the news conference. Click here for the photos of the weigh-in. Contact Bill Daponte at 508-672-5671 or CD-REC Program Director Grace Gerling, 508-679-0922, for more information.
 

(Top row) Over twenty people showed up to participate in one of the cardio kick boxing sessions offered at CD-REC at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays. (Middle row) Certified fitness instructor Amy Jones leads the group through a series of aerobic and strength-training exercises set to music. Though most of the participants are using hand weights, they are optional.(Bottom row, center) Karen McDonald and her mother Joan get together with Holly Bronhard after the work-out.