By Diana Giraldo | GFC Editor
The Get Fit Clovis team ended the month of June with a meet up at Carmel Village, an assisted-living community which is avid in local involvement.
Starting this month, the Carmel Village staff and residents rallied together to take the Get Fit Clovis challenge and have begun to motivate each other toward a healthier lifestyle.
“We chose to take the Get Fit challenge because it was interaction with the community in a positive way and our residents here are living better lives and this is one step in the right direction,” said Christy Todrzak, the marketing director for Carmel Village.
Kicking off at 8 a.m. the group, which included all ages from toddlers to seniors, began their Saturday morning with yoga stretches lead by Anna Moore, a yoga instructor and the owner of Fulton Yoga Collective, which is located on Fulton Street in Downtown Fresno.
To Moore, who has practiced yoga for over 10 years, yoga is a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with themselves, find calmness and reach their authenticity.
“Yoga is the fastest, most manageable way to connect instantly not only to fitness, health, better digestion, clearer skin and overall feeling better, it is also a better way to connect with your higher self,” Moore said. “Whether that is God or the universe or Buddha or whatever you want to call it.”
For her she calls it her higher self, which she said is a different part of herself that helps guide her.
“It helps me feel much more grounded and calm,” Moore said. “Instead of feeling lots of pressure from the outside; it really helps me bring my energy from the inside out so I am expressing what is the best for me.”
Wearing their green, orange, grey and blue Get Fit Clovis shirts, the challenge takers learned to channel their breath deeper into their lungs and engaged in exercises like cactus arms to help stretch their torso, along with many more exercises.
Once the team was warmed up and stretched the group took a run, jog or walk of the length of their choice.
“We have a few residents who have their challenges but they are fighters. Nothing will stop them from going on this walk,” Todrzak said. “One of the ladies had a stroke which affected one side of her body and now she is walking the hallway every other day.”
After the run/walk, Sprouts Farmers Market of Clovis gave fresh squeezed juice samples to the now energized and glistening team.
“Sprouts has nine different varieties of fresh pressed juice, which they make in the deli department every morning with their own fresh produce and no added preservatives, colors or sugars — just the fruits and vegetables,” said Wesley McRoberts from Sprouts.
The collection includes the Beet Blend that is good for the heart and blood; the
Green Power Punch that is high in protein and is great for after a work out; the Energize Me juice that is great as a pre-workout drink and has pineapple, apple, pear and ginger; and the Turmeric Tonic is very good for inflammation. Thier juice selection also includes a carrot and orange blend, fresh orange juice and carrot juice, which are all high in vitamin C and vitamin A.
“They all bring something to the table but the green power punch and the beet blend are the most healthy, and although they all only have natural sugar, they don’t have as much sugar in them,” McRoberts said.
During the week, the Carmel Village team has challenged themselves to another weekly meetup. On Fridays, the team of 33 meets in the facility’s gym and does a breathing and yoga-based stretching workout along with a walk around the community.
“We are motivating and challenging each other not only because is it great for team building, but we are also all motivating each other to be healthier,” said Todrzak.
Get Fit Clovis is still taking sign ups for individuals and teams to join the three month fitness challenge. If you sign-up your team of 12 or more people by the end of July, the Clovis Roundup Newspaper will cover the cost of your Get Fit Clovis team shirts. Visit the Get Fit Clovis website for more details.
