Back to School, Back to You

All News That's Fitness! | August 2025

August means school buses will be on the road again. Schedules change, and summer fitness routines can get turned upside down. Build a new health and wellness regimen at BayCare Fitness Centers: try a new class, treat yourself to a massage, or dial in your goals with a personal trainer. It's time to get back to YOU!

Editor's Note:

Your newsletter is divided by these dark blue banners into "Happenings" for all members and then by individual center, alphabetically: Bloomingdale, Carillon, then Cheek-Powell.

Fall 50 Workout Challenge

Work out 50 times between

August 4 and November 2 to enter!

Challenge yourself and your friends to complete this fall contest!

It's easy to play:

• Personalize a tracker at the Front Desk.

• Record each workout visit (1 per day)

• Rack up 50 workouts in 90 days to be entered!

• Everyone can enter. Anyone could win.

On November 3, one completed tracker will be randomly chosen to win a BayCare Fitness Gift Bag, including a $100 gift card!

Smart Trackers 101

Join TechDeck Health Technology Coaches for an informative presentation on how smartwatches can support a health journey. Discover the key features of popular devices like Apple, Fitbit, and Garmin. Learn how to track heart rate, sleep, steps, and more from a wrist device. Get guidance on matching the right device to needs and lifestyle and using it to stay motivated, connected and in control of wellness goals.

Bardmoor HealthHub

Monday, August 4 at 1PM

Conference Room

Email baycare.techdeck@baycare.org or call

(727) 486-3396 to reserve your spot!

Bloomingdale HealthHub

Wednesday, August 6 at 1PM

Community Room

Front Desk to reserve your spot!

Feel the Heat - Fire Ops 101

with Carillon Personal Trainer Milo Martinez

Imagine running into a burning building. Or arriving at the scene of a terrible accident. Or giving immediate medical intervention when every second counts.

The Pinellas Park Fire Department invited a team from Carillon's BayCare Fitness Center (Jennifer, Raven, Finn, and myself), along with local government leaders, to Fire Ops 101 to give us a glimpse into their daily routine.

We learned about the many services that Fire and Rescue Departments provide while we put on 70lbs of gear, and it became immediately apparent that the suits don’t just keep fire out, they keep body heat and moisture in. Then the real work began.

We performed Basic Life Support on a friend until an EMT or Paramedic arrived to provide more advanced measures. We carried a fire hose into a pitch-black, smoke-filled building, we used the jaws of life to extricate someone trapped in a vehicle and infrared thermal tech to locate people when your eyes can’t.

I’d never thought about being a firefighter. Our team only spent part of one day working in a controlled, simulated environment. When we experience an emergency, we’re inherently the worst possible version of ourselves. We trust that our responders in the Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Department will always there for us as the best possible versions of themselves. I have a newfound respect and admiration for the brave members of the emergency service sector.

Check out the media coverage of our day!

GroupEx Spotlight - Les Mills

Les Mills New Release Weeks and Technique Clinics

Every quarter, Les Mills releases brand new music and choreography. This is a great time to try a new class, because everybody is learning the new moves together. We've added technique clinics before some of the most popular classes for participants to safely learn or review the basic moves of each Les Mills class style. Check out the Pop-Ups schedule in the app, or any of the three online schedules linked at BayCareFitness.org to plan your next Les Mills adventure!

Pop-Ups are available for registration at time of announcement. Regular class registration can be done up to 48 hours in advance.

Your 14 Les Mills Instructors at BayCare Fitness. How many can you name?

Pulse Access App-titude

The Pulse Access app for iPhone or Android is built for convenience, whether accessing your barcode for check-in, or booking your next class.

But did you know it also has one-button access to your full Member Portal?

In the app, you can only see date, time, instructor and if a class is open to book.

But if you want to see the full description of a class, hit the three lines in the upper RIGHT corner (called a "hamburger menu"), and choose Member Portal for a more detailed experience.

Then select the LEFT hamburger menu, then Schedule, then Class Sign Up, then Search.

Now you'll see a much more robust description of each class (who, what, when, and where)!

You can Sign Up on that screen with the same single click. Want to look further out than a week? Use New Search to go back and pick more dates.

Need help? Ask at the Front Desk or email us!

Team Member Spotlight

Les Mills Instructor Mindy

Mindy brings unstoppable energy and enthusiasm to every class she leads at Cheek-Powell and Carillon, keeping members so motivated that they might forget they're working out! Whether it's BodyPump, RPM, or BodyCombat, she makes every workout fun and engaging with her infectious personality. Mindy also emphasizes proper form to get the most out of every move, safely and effectively. Come sweat, smile, and feel great with Mindy’s high-energy classes!

Member Spotlight

Carillon's Roberta Rauch

Bert doesn't just tell us she loves us, she takes that show on the road!

"I've been keeping fit and healthy here for seven years. Shout out to Terri, who always explains the 'why' of exercises. BayCare Fitness Center Carillon is the complete package!"

Joint Freeing Yoga with Jack

Join certified Yoga Instructor Jack for this special class with movements and poses that target joint and muscle-related mobility concerns.

By focusing on improvement in range of motion, these poses can increase joint and muscle flexibility and strength, help to correct faulty movement patterns, and support therapeutic healing through better mobility.

Joint Freeing Yoga is beneficial for those living with osteoporosis and arthritis, is a great warm up option before any yoga class, and can bring added relief to common mobility issues associated with injury and stress.

A sound bowl meditation finishes the class to leave you feeling refreshed and recharged.

Join Jack at either of our Pinellas locations!

Cheek-Powell

Thursday, August 21 4:30pm - 5:20pm

Carillon

Thursday, August 28 4:30pm - 5:20pm

Fitness Members: $20, Guests: $30

Live Virtual Health Event

Breathe Easy: What's Really Causing That Stuffy, Runny Nose - And How to Fix It!

Can't shake that stuffy nose? Tired of your nose running at the worst time? You're not alone—and there's more to it than just allergies. Join Dr. Adrian Chow for a fun, informative session on what’s really going on with your nose. From pollen to polyps, we’ll break down the most common culprits, how to identify your personal triggers, and what actually delivers relief. You'll learn about treatments from easy at-home remedies to advance in-office procedures—and get expert tips to help you breathe easier every day. Bring your questions and leave with answers—and maybe even a clear nose too!

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 16

Time: 12:00pm - 12:45pm

(Use "BayCare Fitness" as your organization to register). Check out past presentations and wellness resources HERE.

BayCare HealthChat Podcast

Thyroid Conditions and Treatments

Part of our endocrine system, the thyroid is an important gland that produces hormones to regulate much of what we do. ENT and endocrine surgeon Dr. Dipan Desai joins us to explain what happens when the thyroid develops nodules and when it's under or overactive. Click HERE to listen.

Dr. Dipan Desai is a board-certified otolaryngologist specializing in advanced thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Learn more about Dr. Desai HERE.

BayCare HealthChat is a library of podcasts that you can listen to online or with your favorite podcast service, anywhere and anytime. Each month we'll select one that is fitness or wellness related and offer the direct link.

Happenings at Bloomingdale

For more information, call the Front Desk at 813-586-8600

Mat and Reformer Fusion

Join Pilates master trainer Stacey, and Pilates Mat instructors Amy and Diana, to combine the precision of reformer work with the flow of mat Pilates. Blend spring-assisted movements with bodyweight challenges for resistance training that’s easy on the joints but effective for building strength, balance and control.

Mon. August 11

12:30pm

Tue. August 12

12:00pm

Wed. August 13

6:00pm

Free to the community. Space is limited. Register in the app (Pop-Ups) or Front Desk.

Free Wellness Lecture: Fall Prevention

Fall Prevention Workshop

Presented by South Florida Baptist Hospital Outpatient Rehab at BayCare HealthHub® (Bloomingdale)

In this one-hour presentation, hear the common reasons why people fall and how to mitigate that risk. Discover what resources are available to physically and emotionally help support those who have suffered a fall.

Discussion will include statistics, injury risk, and strategies to avoid falling, including live demonstrations.

Monday, Sept. 15

10:00am Community Room

Free to members and the community, but space is limited. Register in the app (Pop-Ups) or at the Front Desk to reserve your spot!

New Face at Bloomingdale

Welcome Member Services Rep

Rainie to the Bloomingdale Team.

"I grew up in the Tampa Bay area, and my family and I now live in Valrico with our two dogs. I have been a Team Member with BayCare in the Rehab department and with Primary Care. I am excited to join the Fitness Center and start a new adventure with BayCare. I have many hobbies! My most recent interest is bike riding; I am always looking for a good trail. And I love baking for my dog so much that I started my own dog bakery business."

Happenings at Carillon

For more information, call the Front Desk at 727-502-4444

Meditation Boot Camp with Julie

Meditation is a practice that involves using different techniques to focus and clear the mind. The practice of meditation is thousands of years old. Scientific studies have shown that it can reduce stress anxiety and even lower blood pressure. This session will introduce you to simple breathing techniques, the use of mantras (repetitive phrase or sound) and guided meditation.

Monday, August 11

9am & 4:30pm

Carillon GroupEx Studio

No prior meditation experience is required. Participants can be seated on a yoga mat or a chair. Free to the community, but space is limited. Call or stop by the Front Desk to register.

Les Mills BODYPUMP has arrived!

The Les Mills signature weight training class has arrived at Carillon. Join Trina and Abby for this new regular offering!

Tuesday at 6:00am

with Trina

Tuesday at 5:30pm

with Abby

Thursday at 12:00pm

with Abby

Included in your membership. Sign up in the app or at the Front Desk and start pumping!

Happenings at Cheek-Powell

For more information, call the Front Desk at 727-462-7685

Meditation Boot Camp with Julie

Wed. August 13 at 4:30pm

Thu. August 14 at 11:00am

Cheek-Powell GroupEx Studio

No prior meditation experience is required. Participants can be seated on a yoga mat or a chair. Free to the community, but space is limited. Call or stop by the Front Desk to register.