PARK NEWS

FIND A PARK

FIND AN ACTIVITY

ADMINISTRATION

Online Services

Our Government

News and Events

Maps, Facts & Stats

State & Federal

 

Register through Parktakes Online for these exciting, fun-filled programs! Providence – Fitness XYO – eXercise Your Options! With a RECenter membership pass you have the opportunity to participate in a variety of land group exercise classes offered as part of the XYO — eXercise Your Options! program. From cycling to step, rowing to high-low aerobics, XYO offers the best of all worlds. The Fitness Center at Providence RECenter is "the place to be" in Falls Church. We have created an atmosphere that encourages people of all fitness levels to continuously improve in all areas of fitness and wellness.   The Fitness Center is fully equipped with: Free weights Resistance Cybex equipment A variety of cardiovascular machines - treadmills, stair steppers, recumbent bikes, upright bikes Elliptical machines are also available Our state of the art FitLinxx computer system will help you monitor your progress and achieve your fitness goals. With a RECenter membership pass, your FitLinxx individualized workout program is free In addition to the equipment, a full time fitness instructor with a staff of personal trainers and volunteers is there to assist you with enthusiasm and dedication to help you get the most out of your workout time and to develop a program that meets your specific goals. The Fairfax County Park Authority opened its first Pilates Studio in January 2003 at Providence RECenter. Pilates is a method of body conditioning, a system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed over 90 years ago by German-born Joseph H. Pilates. These popular classes focus on reformer or equipment-based sessions with just five people per class, one-on-one personal training and time rental for personal unsupervised practice sessions. In our mission to bring recreation and wellness to the community of Falls Church, we offer a variety of programs including body alignment, core strength, fitness assessment, weight control, incentive programs, programs for Seniors, and many more fun and active programs all year long. It is also our commitment to reach the youth in our community. We offer a weight training program for teenagers (13-15 yrs) that allows them to workout in the fitness room properly and safely, continuously building a habit of exercise as part of their lifestyle. Our fitness center is open, Monday - Friday, 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Teens, 13-15 years old, may use the fitness center and equipment when accompanied by an adult. After completion of a teen weight training class, no supervision is required. Pumping iron adds big benefits to those golden years When it comes to adopting health-promoting exercise habits, growing numbers of older Americans are putting their younger counterparts to shame, according to surveys by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We've seen that same trend here at Providence as more seniors join the ranks of our fitness enthusiasts. They've gotten the message that regular physical activity comes closer to being the fountain of youth than anything modern medicine can offer. And one of the best ways to get that regular physical activity is through resistance training. Research documents the benefits of pumping iron for seniors, even frail elderly people. In a recent study of nursing home residents reported in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that 10 weeks of weight lifting doubled muscle strength in the legs, improved walking ability and increased daily physical activity by about 35%. In addition to building up muscle and bone density, which in turn improves strength, posture and balance, weight work brings other benefits: increased metabolism decreased risk of diabetes improved ratio of "good" HDL cholesterol to "bad" LDL cholesterol pain relief for osteoarthritis Research also shows that even brief periods of mild exercise can result in immediate improvements in memory for older adults. Exercise also fosters clearer thinking and faster reaction time by helping to speed the transmission of nerve messages. Here at Providence, we're delighted to see more and more seniors improving muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness in our aerobics and water exercise classes and increasing their flexibility and balance with yoga. And we're looking forward to introducing more seniors to the benefits they can gain from our Cybex circuit. for suggestions on how to get started, ask a member of our programming staff.