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Longfellow Life
Our Monthly Newsletter
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A message from Laury Hammel, 
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 Dear Members and Friends,
This weather can really dampen our spirits and flood our basements. But not to worry, at Longfellow the climate is bright and cheery. Nothing like getting moving and creating those fun-loving endorphins to keep our spirits high during the interminable rainy weather.
A member came up to me yesterday, all sweaty and energized and said, "I love this club!". I am always thrilled to hear this and asked him why. He said, "because there are so many options and different ways to work out and be fit." He went on to describe all the ways he's works out. Some folks only use one piece of equipment and they're happy and feel good and that is great! However, we encourage everyone to do as many different types of exercise as you can, for a wide variety of reasons. And what better time than now to try something new and expand and enhance your exercise routine. My new favorite machine is the StepMill which gives a brutal but fantastic workout. I do 5-10 minutes and I'm toast and loving it! It has made a big difference in my tennis and in my overall movement in life!
Even though it doesn't feel like it, in just a few days the official Longfellow summer season begins on Saturday, May 28 Our summer club membership is extremely popular and it includes many wonderful family activities. We're nearly sold out of memberships for the summer, so if you are interested in upgrading or you have a friend interested in joining we encourage you to talk with one of our membership representatives now so you don't miss out.
I hope you have as much fun reading this newsletter as we've had in putting it together - there's some pretty cool stories and announcements.
Yours in health,
Laury Hammel, President
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Longfellow on FaceBook!
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The Longfellow Facebook
Page continues to gain interest as more and more people "like" it. You can find us on Facebook under "The Longfellow Clubs - Wayland and Natick." "Liking" the Longfellow page means you'll have access to an excellent resource to support your health and fitness goals and give you a boost of inspiration.
Do you like to be inspired and have your day be uplifted! Join the Longfellow Facebook page and be inspired every Monday with a Quote of the week.
The first five folks to tell us their favorite quote and why it moves you, will receive two free guest passes!
Don't pass this up and let's all share the inspiration!
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Group Exercise |
A Spinning Success - Elizabeth Gutting
Five months ago, the day after Thanksgiving to be exact, I decided to change my lifestyle in two ways....exercise regularly and become a vegetarian. Since that day I have lost 42 pounds and very soon I hope to be able to call myself a triathlete.
 I had been a member of the Longfellow Club for well over a year yet rarely made the time to work out. As a stay-at-home mom I was always busy, busy, and certainly too busy to get to the gym. Five months ago I showed up in Lisa Wilkins' 9:30 a.m. spin class. I didn't have the right shoes, sat in the back of the room, and my "heavy hill" was a level 8. I really liked the class and from that day forward I showed up regularly. The spin class felt more like a training ride instead of an exercise class and that worked well for me. My "heavy hill" is now a level 19.
I quickly added swimming laps to my workout routine. I was initially so slow I was afraid the little kids in the nearby swim lessons would pass me up! I regularly showed up at the pool and made it a point to improve my technique each session. After I taught myself to breathe to both sides I realized I really liked the sport! Although still slow, I now swim 40 laps (just over a mile) each session.
In March I signed up for the Danskin all women's Triathlon and it gave me a true goal to work towards. It took a while for me to work up the courage to register, but I'm so glad I did! Meanwhile, I did not "diet" nor did I consider myself to be "on a diet" for one moment during the past five months. Instead, I CHANGED my diet by eating a lot more fruits and vegetables and drinking a glass of water before I eat anything. Nothing fancy.
My training days (I now call it "training" not "exercising") at Longfellow got me through the long snowy winter and allowed me to work toward my goal of completing a triathlon. I don't really see myself as a success story, more like a "work in progress". I definitely see more triathlons and long distance races in my future! |
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Little Longfellows |
LATER @ LONGFELLOW BAKE SALE
Wednesday May 25th 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Stop by and purchase a yummy treat from our after school students - all to raise funds for Japan Disaster Relief! Children will be baking up a storm for this annual, popular Bake Sale! Prices will range from 25 cents to $5!
LATER @ LONGFELLOW LEMONADE STAND
Saturday & Sunday June 4th and 5th
Join our little Longfellows in June for their town-wide Lemonade Stand Fundraising Event! Proceeds from the effort will go to support our neighbors in need in Japan. Look out in your neighborhood on these dates and see if you spot any children with a lemonade stand - they are most likely from our after school program! Stop by and purchase a drink of lemonade to support their Community Service project!
KIDS NIGHT OUT
Friday May 27 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for our last Kid's Night Out before the summer begins! This program offers swimming, gym time, crafts and free choice for kids ages 5 - 10 years old! Whether your child gets to play soccer, swim, play board games or do fuse beads, you can relax at home, go shopping or even go out for a romantic dinner knowing your child is having tons of fun! Kid's Night Out starts at 6 pm and runs until 9 pm. To register click on the link below!
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Fitness News
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Fitness Staff Member
Jason Hammel
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Please congratulate and welcome Jason Hammel and Ian Palombo to our team of NASM Certified Personal Trainers. They both recently sat for and passed this rigorous exam with flying colors. Jason has expertise in tennis and martial arts, and working with children. Ian has experience in running and endurance training, and recently completed both a Spartan Race and the Tough Mudder, finishing in the top 125 out of 14,000 entrants in the latter. Congratulations Jason and Ian, and welcome to the team!
Have you ever wanted to run a 5K? Let Ian coach you
 | | Fitness Staff member. Ian Palombo |
through it. For first-timers or more advanced runners, Ian has developed a plan to guide you through the process and he will run the race with you and help pace you, on June 25th in Burlington. What better way to run your first 5K! Classes will be a mix of strength and cardiac training. Sessions begin in May and are limited to 6, so reserve your spot soon.
Be on the lookout for our newest Small Group Class offerings: 5k Training with Ian, Outdoor Bogota with Janice, Bogota for young athletes with Sone, and Family Fitness. Contact Dan Salerno at 508-653-4633 with questions about any of our upcoming sessions.
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We Like Later @ Longfellow!
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 Later @ Longfellow students talk about what they love about coming to our after school program! Check out the video to hear what they have to say!
Later @ Longfellow after school program takes children from three elementary schools in Natick: Ben-Hem, Lilja & Brown. Don't go to one of thoses schools? No problem. Just transport them here and we will take care of the rest!
Our program includes all the healthy and fun activities to keep your child fit and active, from swimming to yoga and fitness. Call Caroline Donahue for more information at 508 653 4633.
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Water Exercise News
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Tips for getting the most from your Water Workouts!
 1. Make sure your belt is almost "too tight" before you get in the water. The belts tend to loosen up a little once you start moving. We have new belts with velcro buckles that will make it easier to adjust from within the water if necessary.
2. Stand tall and long in the water before you start to move. Focus on keeping your body in alignment as you begin to exercise. Some people tend to tip either too far backward or forward, while others might need to make sure the glutes are in alignment with the spine.
3. Keep your abdominal muscles strong by focusing some of your attention on that area throughout the class.
4. When performing exercises such as cross-country skiing, focus on using the glutes and hamstrings during the backward motion. This allows for a good stretch and a stronger lower back. If you have never tried a class, come and bring a friend - it's a FABULOUS workout and we have fun too!!!
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Nutrition News
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Longfellow's Nutrition
Guru Jane Polley
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PALM, HAND, PLATE
When dining out or eating at home, look at the food on your plate in relation to your palm and your hand. We suggest making 1/2 the food on your plate (1 hand) vegetables and salad. Divide the other 1/2 of the plate between grains and protein (each the size of the palm).
In order to feel satiated, most men (and some women) might need to make their serving sizes 1 inch bigger than the palm of the hand. For these exceptions, add more vegetables and salad, keeping 1/2 the plate "green."
MOST NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING IS COVERED UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE. To make an appointment with Andrea, Brandon, Jane, Janna or Stacey, CONTACT JANE at JPOLLEY@LONGFELLOWSPORTSCLUB.com
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Shelia Weinstock Wins Silver Ball at USTA National Hardcourts! |
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Shelia Weinstock |
Sheila Weinstock, manager of the Natick Racquet Club, won a silver ball by placing second in singles at the USTA National Hard Court Tennis Championships in La Jolla, CA., May 7 - 14th. Her second place finish came at the hands of Charleen Hillebrand, of California--the number one ranked player in the country in her age group. In semi-finals, Sheila defeated Suella Steel, also from California--the number two player in the nation. This was the first time Sheila had ever defeated Suella, so it was a big win.
Sheila has been playing some of the best singles of her tennis playing career in the last two national tournaments. Previous to this tournament, Sheila placed third in singles in the national clay court championships in Huntsville, AL., just three weeks ago.
Sheila's stellar results in 2011 national tournaments position her not only for a high national ranking but also make her a prime candidate for the United States Senior Team that competes in the International Tennis Federation World Team Championships. The first Level I national tournament of 2011 Sheila placed #2. The second Level I she placed #2. There are two more Level I national tournaments in 2011, and all the Longfellow folks say--GO FOR THE GOLD SHEILA!
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Tennis News
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Tennis and Summer - two great things that go great together! There are lots of activities at the Natick Racquet Club this summer for tennis play and instruction for both juniors and adults.
 Summer Fun Clinics for juniors will be starting Monday, June 20. Classes will be held Monday thru Thursday afternoons and there will be 10 one-week sessions: Zip Tennis (4-7 yr. olds) 4 - 4:45 p.m.; and USA clinics (8-12 yr. olds) 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Signup by calling the Racquet Club: 508-653-4606.
Adult Clinics start June 6 and there will be three sessions during the summer: June, July and August on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 8 p.m. First session starts the week of June 6 and the clinics are open for beginners, advanced beginners and intermediate players. Call Holly Osler at the Racquet Club to sign up.
Morning Adult programs: Advanced beginner to intermediate clinics: Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9:30 - 11 a.m. Beginner clinic: Wednesday mornings 9:30 - 11 a.m. Signups are for each day - call the Racquet Club to sign up.
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Rebound Physical Therapy
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 Rebound has recently expanded its services and facility to better meet the needs of our
clients. We believe in getting to the whole root of a problem, enabling you to bring out the best in yourself. Though originally established as a physical therapy practice, we know that feeling better is not just about joint health, diet, and exercise. Your well-being involves the whole package. That is why we have added this special team of Massage Therapists to our group in Natick.
Differing from businesses that offer a 'ready-to-order' menu of therapeutic styles, at Rebound we know that  your needs can vary   from day to day. We recommend your therapy involves having an ongoing consultation with your therapist to determine the optimal mix of techniques and therapeutic approaches needed to best address your unique situation and symptoms. Our therapists have extensive experience and certifications in a vast variety of advanced massage techniques. These toolboxes enable each of them to always be ready to provide the optimal response to your body's needs.
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Our Reason to Relay
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Longfellow Staff Members are making a difference by teaming up to participate in the American Cancer Society's 'Relay for Life'.
Our team, 'Longfellow Warriors', so named because we won't give up on a cure for cancer without a fight, will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track at Bowditch Field in Framingham on June 11 through June 12. We're raising money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer, and more birthdays! Saving lives from cancer starts one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time. All donations will be given to the American Cancer Society.
Our team is doing its part to make sure that new treatments continue to be found. The team consists of the following Longfellow Employees from both Natick and Wayland clubs: (from left to right) Caroline Donahue (Co-Chair/Children's Program Director, Natick), Sharyn Richards (Membership Director, Natick) Marcy Bailey-Adams (Nursery, Natick), Lisa Weinman (Co-Chair/Kidz Club, Natick), Cathy Kelly (Kidz Club Natick/Front Desk, Wayland), Courtney Adams (Nursery/Kidz Club, Natick), Karen Giorgio (After School/Kidz Club, Natick), Linda Fritz (Cafe Manager, Wayland), Meg Power (Kidz Club, Natick). Not shown are Myke Farricker (General Manager), Sean Sullivan (Front Desk, Natick) and Dick Gellis (Front Desk, Wayland).
These staff members are fantastic, and are dedicated to winning this fight against cancer! Please consider making a donation. The impact we can make together is much greater than what any of us could do alone! If you make a donation of $5 or more, your name will be entered into a RAFFLE to win either a FREE massage at Rebound Physical Therapy, or a private tennis lesson with none other than Longfellow President and Founder Laury Hammel himself. Value - priceless!
The Raffle Winner will be announced June 1!
Donate at the Front Desk at any club or click here to give online.
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Birthday Parties | |
Longfellow Sports Club offers an amazing party environment.
From swimming to sports, arts to dance, we have something for every age. Our staff takes care of everything, from activities to paper goods.
Longfellow has an experienced team that will set up, clean up and help serve refreshments - just bring your birthday child and kids ready to party and play, and we'll do the rest!
To reserve a party or get more information, call Lisa Furdon at Longfellow, 508-653-4633. |
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Bad Boys of Boston Do One Better!
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 Longfellow founder, Laury Hammel recently returned from Arizona after a successful tennis campaign representing New England in the Men's 60 and over division. The New England Team, known as the Bad Boys of Boston, made a number of amazing comebacks and took home third place out of 12 sections from across the land. This was an improvement over last year's results where the Bad Boys placed fourth. Next year they will be settling for nothing less than first or second! The New England Women's 60's Team which the Bad Boys `nicknamed' the New England Goody Goodies, played awesome and took home the gold! All of these fine athletes say they are lying about their age! :-) This photo above is of both Men's and Women's teams who did New England proud! |
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11th Annual Positive Spin for ALS
on Sunday, June 12 at Wayland Longfellow! | |
 On Sunday June 12th, Longfellow will be hosting the 11th Annual Positive Spin for ALS Bike Ride. Over the years the ride has raised over $700,000 for research and patient care for those afflicted with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). You can choose a 10, 25, 50, or 70 mile ride, all starting and ending at Longfellow in Wayland with a cookout. The ride is in memory of Pete Farricker, Myke's brother, who passed away from ALS in 2001 at the age of 45. The picture to the left show members of the 1982 Ultimate Frisbee World Championship Team that Pete was a member of, that rides each year in Pete's memory. So come join us, get some exercise riding through the beautiful backroads of MetroWest, have some fun, and contribute to others less fortunate than ourselves. Hope to see you there!
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Handi-Racket News!
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 Saturday May 21st, The Longfellow Club in Wayland & Handi-Racket will host the Special Olympics MA Tennis Assessment Round. This is a singles & doubles tournament leading up to the Special Olympics Summer games June 17-19th, 2011. Handi-Racket Tennis athletes are the largest group of tennis players at SOMA! The Longfellow Club has had a long and special relationship with Special Olympics MA. Tennis was introduced into Special Olympics in 1989, and in 1991, Massachusetts sent its first tennis team to the International Special Olympics Games held in Minneapolis-St.Paul. That team, coached by Longfellow Pro & Handi-Racket Executive Director, Sylvia Swartz, had Longfellow as a training center. The same was true in 1995 when Suzi Barnes coached the SOMA tennis team that went to the World Special Olympics Games in New Haven.
This June 9-11, 2011, Handi-Racket Tennis & The Longfellow Club in Wayland will host the 4th New England Adaptive Tennis Tournament, which will include singles and doubles. A group of 14 will be attending from Atlanta, and athletes from Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts will also be playing. Last month the Longfellow tennis pros held a Pro-Am & Raffle to help raise money towards this tournament. Many thanks to our GREAT tennis staff & club members!!!
Handi-Racket Tennis, the USTA Award winning adaptive tennis program, is completing its 34th year of teaching tennis to handi-capable people! The volunteers who assist Handi-Racket Tennis are young tennis players as well as adult Longfellow members in Wayland. Come see us on the court in Wayland on Saturdays from 3-5 pm. For more information, call Sylvia at The 508-358-7355 X210. |
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 Add a Free Month or Two (or more) to your Membership!
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Did you know, if you refer a friend to join our club for an annual membership, you get a free additional month on your membership. The more you refer, the more months you get FREE. Your friend just has to mention your name when they join. |
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Sign up for a week of Camp Longfellow Natick
and receive $25 off! |
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Save 10% on
Yoga Birthday Parties!
Have fun with our NEW Yoga Birthday Party! Learn basic yoga while incorporating playing games and being creative, with story telling based on poses we learn! For ages 5 and up.
Only at Longfellow Sports Club, Natick Coupon Expires
12/31/11
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Our Values |  The Longfellow Purpose:
- To build a world where everyone's basic needs are met, and people experience love, happiness, and satisfaction.
- To create a model organization, through the development of successful health and recreation businesses, that works toward the fulfillment of our global vision.
The Longfellow Mission Statement:
The Longfellow Clubs are a locally owned and independent business committed to the health and well being of our community, and provide extraordinary fitness, recreational, and educational programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
We honor all Longfellow stakeholders and appreciate all they do to make us the vibrant community we are. All management decisions consider the needs of Longfellow stakeholders and it is our intention to: - Love and care for our customer and to create a caring and compassionate culture that is committed to providing the highest level of customer service by exceeding expectations and saying yes if we can.
- Support every staff member in reaching their full potential as human beings - physically, mentally, and spiritually. We engage them in the management process and make every effort to pay a living wage with fair benefits to all staff members.
- Preserve our environment, minimize our carbon footprint, and join with others in our community to build a sustainable and just world.
- Work closely with individuals and nonprofit organizations to promote healthy, sustainable, and inclusive communities.
- Support the locally owned and independent business partners in our community and in our industry so that they can be financially successful and outstanding community citizens.
- Manage a profitable business that is a leader in our industry and provides a fair return to the owners and investors.
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