The ninth week of the Eighth Annual Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge  brought over 50 participants to Re-creation headquarters on March 14, 2015 for an hour-long session led by Ray Gendreau of FitWorks. Ray led the group through a series of exercises designed to strengthen the inner core of muscles that are often the source of back and neck pains. The exercises require a lot of "floor work" on mats, and Ray would alternate between upright and prone positions throughout the hour. Sponsored by Greater Fall River Re-creation, Partners for a Healthier Community, Saint Anne's Hospital, Southcoast Hospitals, the Challenge includes programs provided by All Generations Fitness, the Diabetes Association, Inc., Fitness Fusion, FitWorks, General Fitness. Greater Fall River Re-creation, TKO Fitness, and the Fall River YMCA. The Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in the Greater Fall River Area. Click here for an 15-minute video of the Saturday event. Click here for photos of the ninth week of the Challenge. Call ReCreation at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com. 

(Top two rows) Ray Gendreau of FitWorks starts the group off with some warm-ups before moving to the core exercises on the mats. (Row three) Melinda Costa does some half sit-ups following Ray's demonstration to the group. (Row four, left) Aurora White keeps up the pace with the rest of the group. (Bottom two rows) Ray directs the core exercises on the mats before starting a cool-down and turning it over to Annemarie Holly for the door prize drawing at the end of the session.