Hello and welcome to the May edition where we share all the fun stuff coming up in May, including a Fairy Tale Breakfast, a Big Day in the Big Apple, a Big Block Party and even a Battle - of the Band variety show! We can’t wait to share the details, but first, another mystery fitness quote. Remember, No Googling!! The answer is embedded in this newsletter. Who said the following?:
“The First Wealth is Health”
Before we head into May, we should close out April, which seemed confused this year about its meteorological obligations. Good news: despite the never-ending snow showers and freezing temps, we at Concord Recreation and the Beede Center found many reasons to celebrate!
April 18 marked our 12th anniversary and we observed this special occasion by recognizing the very people who keep us successful: You, our members. The fete kicked off at the predawn hour of 5:30 a.m., with healthy snacks and T-shirt giveaways. Member Jeff Lipson won the random drawing for a Beede Camp Chair.
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The Beede Center and Concord Recreation are CLOSED Monday May 28. Yes, we know it’s sad when you can’t come to the Beede or your Concord Rec classes, but we all need a day to fire up the barbeques and celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off to summer. Our regularly scheduled programming returns on Tuesday, May 29.
Registration for summer programs is coming up! Here are the important dates to put in your calendar: Tuesday, May 29 for members of the Beede Center and current participants Monday, June 4 for everyone else
A hearty congratulations to the following Concord residents who finished the 2018 Boston Marathon, in some of the worst weather recorded for the storied race: Isabella Caruso, Peter Smulowitz, Paul O’Connell, Matt Sbrogna, Lynn Markowitz, Abby Farian, Bruce Blumberg, David Narrow, Derek Schwartz, Robert McEneaney and Erich Richard.
Happy Birthday to Ralph Waldo Emerson! His 215th birthday is May 25; his home, which you can visit, is at 18 Cambridge Turnpike. Emerson was a philosopher, poet and journalist; good friends with Thoreau and Hawthorne, among others; and a mentor to Louisa May Alcott. He and his contemporaries cemented Concord’s reputation as a literary haven.
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It’s unanimous. Eating pancakes is the best! Eating pancakes with Cinderella, Elsa, Olaf and friends is even better. So come join us for a
Royal Breakfast
at Trails End Cafe on Sunday, May 6 for a magical morning meal featuring fresh farm-to-table fare and a delightful mix of family members and Disney friends. Reservations are recommended for this regal event so call Trail’s End 978-610-6633 right away. The cost is $15 for children and $30 for adults. Trails End is at 97 Lowell Road, Concord.
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No doubt your family has a longstanding tradition of celebrating Star Wars Day, which we all know is May The Fourth. There are the parades, the long distance visits from relatives, the traffic headaches, the out-of-this-world feasts of Chewbacca chowdah, Hans Sodas, Yoda Yodels and Princess Leia Organics. Who can compete? Well, Concord Rec is going to try. Come to Emerson Playground, Friday, May the Fourth (of course!) from 7:30 to 10 p.m., for a viewing of the classic flick. Dress as your favorite character from the big screen and join your friends for a night at the movies. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. And because we can’t resist, we’re going to share a quote from Yoda, our famous intergalactical Jedi philosopher:
“If you end your training now — if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did — you will become an agent of evil.”
Wow! Sounds serious. Best get back to your workout or forever be on the Dark Side. .
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How do you bring harmony to a raging battle? Add music. That’s what we’re doing
Saturday May 12
as we vote for the best high school band and solosist act in town. Make a note to come down to Hunt Recreation at 5 p.m., and enjoy an evening of live music and fabulous local talent. There is a $10 charge. Sounds like fun.
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Angling to do some angling? Concord Recreation is teaming up with MassWildlife for an outdoor Angler Education Program. Learn how to cast a line, and hopefully catch a fish! Don’t have tackle or a license to fish? No worries. This clinic takes care of all those details. Enjoy a class in the great outdoors on Wednesday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a $10 fee and registration is strongly suggested.
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We input the word “squat” into thesaurus.com and up came the following: thick-bodied, heavy, dumpy and chunky. Well, the content creators of that site need a tour of the Beede Center, where squats rule! There’s nothing dumpy, frumpy or chunky about our squats - as long as you do them right. Personal Trainer Anne Windhol gives us the skinny.
“Whether it’s getting up from a chair, crouching to play with a toddler, or squatting to pick something up, squat-like movements are part of our daily lives. That’s one reason that some version of the move belongs in everyone’s exercise program. Squats work your largest lower-body muscles, with emphasis on your quadriceps, or front thighs, and glutes, or butt muscles. They also work your core, stabilizing muscles, which help you to maintain balance and prevent falls. Strong legs are crucial for staying mobile as you get older, and squats are phenomenal for increasing leg strength, as well as improving mobility in your hips, knees and ankles. Many people are afraid to do squats if they have knee issues, but studies have shown that doing a proper squat will improve knee stability and strengthen connective tissues surrounding the knee.”
There are squat exercises for everyone. Basic body-weight squats, chair sit to stand squats, goblet squats while holding a kettlebell, and power squats like front and back squats with barbells are some examples of squats that you can perform. To prevent injury, it is best to start with chair or body-weight squats to perfect your form and then progress to more difficult versions with added weight.
If you want to work on your lower body strength, give squats a try. Ask a trainer to watch your form and give you tips.
How to do a bodyweight squat:
- Stand with feet a little wider than shoulder width apart and arms extended at shoulder height in front of you.
- Begin the squat by hinging at the hips and pushing your butt back, keeping knees wide, in line with your toes.
- Keep your chest up, shoulders pulled back, and brace your core, abdominals.
- As your knees bend, keep pushing your hips back so your weight stays balanced in the middle of your feet.
- To finish, drive your hips forward, pushing off the floor and return to standing with tight core and glutes.
- Try to perform 10 -20 repetitions in good form.
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Block off Saturday, May 12 on your calendar. You and your family will be busy, busy, busy enjoying the festivities of the Concord Rec’s third annual Block Party. We are blocking off, from 11 to 2, a section of Stow Street (over by the Hunt Gym and basketball courts at Emerson Playground. We will play music, games and even host the ever popular Touch A Truck. This is a fun event where little ones can explore the large Public Works vehicles. Entry is free. There may be a small fee for some events. Come hungry and ready for some fun!
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We are partnering with the folks at Littleton Recreation to host a daylong trip to the Big Apple on Saturday, May 19. Stops include the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Rockefeller Center and an afternoon in midtown Manhattan. You’ll get up at the predawn hours and make you way to 33 Shattuck Street, Littleton where your luxury Silver Fox Motor Coach awaits with comfy seats and an onboard restroom. We’ll stop for breakfast along the way. This will be an enjoyable excursion for the whole family. Guests under 18 MUST travel with an adult. The $109 fee includes admissions to the museums and travel expenses. Our expected return to Littleton is 10:30 p.m.
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Well, these just about wrap up this month’s news. Oh yes, the answer to our mystery fitness quote. OUr very own homegrown Ralph Waldo Emerson! We know you knew it all along.
It is our pleasure to serve you. We always love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line. Happy May everyone!
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Beede Swim and Fitness Center
498 Walden Street
Concord, MA 01742
978-287-1000
beedecenter.com
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