|
Longfellow Life
Our Monthly Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Members and Friends,  | |
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!
We're happy to say that Longfellow is in the process of doing an `Extreme Home Makeover' on the Women's Locker Room and some major upgrades in the Men's Room. These exciting projects will begin in June and we hope to be done when September rolls around. Please be patient if there are a few interruptions (most of the work will be done in the night), and we know you'll be pleased with the outcome.
And on a sad but joyful note, please say goodbye to our trusty pool bubble. :-( It has served us well for 27 years, but it's time to say goodbye. In September we'll be putting up a brand spanking new air structure that will enable us to control the temperature better and will save on energy.
Yours in health,
Laury Hammel, President
|
|
|
|
|
Check Out Longfellow's Facebook Page by LIKING Us!
| |
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!
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.
|
|
George Seage's Comback
| |
George Seage has been a member of Longfellow since 1999. He had run in a marathon down in Cape Cod and realized he was not in as good a shape as he thought, so he started taking Barbell, Core & Boot Camp classes in 2002.
By 2005, George was in incredible shape both physically and mentally and had adopted some great habits. He was feeling great knowing 50 was just around the corner.
 | |
George Seage
|
In 2007, to benefit Dana Farber, he trained for the Boston Marathon, which he completed easily. Just two months later he went to the doctor when he discovered an enlarged lymph node in his neck. The doctor said they'd keep an eye on it.
One month later, though George was feeling fine, he went back for another checkup. The lymph node had gotten bigger and another one was discovered growing. He was then biopsied and diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, specifically Follicular Lymphoma, an "indolent" slow growing lymphoma.
George decided he would still run a ½ marathon before surgery to remove the nodes. He completed that and soon had his surgery. After the operation he had a PET-CT scan to see if the cancer was growing in the lymph nodes, and his doctors decided to watch and wait for a year. After a year, his nodes had gotten bigger, and in the fall of 2008 he underwent 6 rounds of 4-drug chemotherapy. The nodes disappeared in 2008-09, but the cancer came back in the summer of '09.
George's oncologist, Lee Nadler, Dean of research at Harvard Medical School/Dana
Farber, decided it was time to do an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant, using George's own stem cells. On Feb. 10, 2010, George was hospitalized at the Stem Cell Transplant Unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The transplant process was initiated with 8 rounds of high dose chemotherapy over 4 days, wiping out the lymphoma, and in the process, his bone marrow. The intense chemo also killed off all of George's red and white blood cells. Two days later, he was given back his stem cells which started producing new red and white blood cells.
Since his immune system was severely compromised, he was kept in the transplant unit, "The Bubble" for one month. There they gave him a stationary bike to keep working out, but due to the chemo, he could not keep much food down and lost 20 lbs. Once his white count was high enough, he could go home. George fought his way though the whole time. He is such a strong individual!
For the next 5 months, George was on a highly restricted diet, could not go to work,
Longfellow, or even leave his home because of his weakened immune system. He came back to Longfellow in the summer of 2010. It was announced to the class and we all applauded his comeback. He started running in Sept. and returned to classes in November.
Family, friends and Longfellow members were so supportive and helpful during his recovery. He is very thankful for having been strong and in such good shape to make it through these trials. These days he's feeling healthy and looking forward to another ½ marathon. He has checkups every 4 months now and receives one drug for maintenance.
George is such an inspiration to all of us at Longfellow and he proved how being in shape and healthy of heart and mind can get you though anything! We love you George!!!!
- Teresa-Newton Moineau, Fitness Director
|
|
Two New Cybex Arc Trainers at Longfellow
|  Check out the new Cybex Arc Trainers! The Arc Trainer is a totally unique exercise machine. It has to be experienced to appreciate what we mean when we say "Better Results - Less Time." The science behind the Arc Trainer's big calorie burn is the arc motion. It engages the muscles that demand lots of energy from the body when they are called upon to work. That means calorie burn and, because the Arc Trainer is demanding of the muscles - not the joints, it can be used longer without putting a strain on the knees, hips or back. - The Arc Trainer burns just as many calories as a treadmill but is low impact thus reducing pounding that can cause knee/back overuse injuries.
- At equal levels of perceived effort, the Arc Trainer burns 16% more calories than an elliptical.
- Balanced loading engages the glutes - not just the quads - relieving the pressure put on the knees. The Arc feels easier so you can work more. Because you can train longer without realizing it, your work capacity improves.
The Arc trainer is for everyone. Because the resistance ranges from 15 to 100, beginners and experienced athletes can find a challenging workout level. Combined with the incline, which ranges from 0 to 15, users can chose what kind of workout they wish to have. Lower levels engage the glutes more, and higher levels increase flexion at the knee and hip thereby putting more emphasis on the quads. The Arc Trainer improves strength, cardio, power and, muscular endurance, running speed and general fitness. Give it a try today!
|
|
Little Longfellows |
 | |
Adam Wyner and daughter Emily |
This month, the Children's Center would like to highlight one of our families. The Wyners are family members of the Longfellow Club with two wonderful children who have attended the center full-time since they were infants. They have incredibly long standing-ties to the Longfellow community.
Adam Wyner has actually been a member since he was a young child, (around the time Laury and Myke became the owners!) and he went on to work for the club in 1993 as a tennis instructor. Adam worked at the tennis camp as well. He branched out to stringing racquets for Longfellow, a job he still does part-time in addition to his "day job." He also plays on a men's tennis team at the Natick Racquet Club.
His lovely wife Ilana also worked here before they
 | |
Ilana Wyner and son Ezra |
were married. She ran the "little tennis" camp program here in Wayland with Phil Parrish from 2002 - 2005. Ilana is a kindergarten teacher in the Wayland school system. Their children are Ezra, 5 and Emily, 2.
When asked what they like best about the club, they cited swimming at the pool as a favorite family activity. Ilana also loves our Bodypump class, and of course, Adam likes playing tennis!
They love the Children's Center for its flexibility, the consistency of the staff and their warmth and enthusiasm. They also love the birthday parties offered here for their ease - parents can relax and enjoy the big day! And last but not least, the great Longfellow holiday staff parties (especially the shrimp!)
We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful family as part of our center. |
|
Tennis News
|
1) Hammel Tennis Camp to Begin Soon!.....................The Hammel Tennis Camp begins its 38th year of fun and learning the sport of a lifetime. We still have openings for all weeks at all levels. Come give your kids or grandkids the opportunity to learn tennis in a fun and friendly learning environment. Whether you are 4 or 18, beginner or advanced, we have the program for you. For more information, please contact Phil Parrish, Camp Director at hammeltenniscamp@hotmail.com or at the club at 508-358-7355.
 2) Looking for a Few Good Players................We are in the process of looking for more players to play in our USTA leagues. We have teams in: Men's 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and Women's 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0. We also have a Senior Women's (over 50) 3.5, 4.0 and Super Seniors (over 60) 7.0 team. If you are interested in playing in the USTA league (matches are during the week and you play approximately twice a month, dependent upon your schedule.) , please contact Lorie Gochenour at lorie@longfellowclubs.com or Phil Parrish at lftennisdirector@hotmail.com or at the club at 508-358-7355.
3) Calling all Senior 3.0 Women...............We will be running a Monday Night League for all Senior 3.0 Women. We have over 20 ladies who are currently interested in play. If you want to sign up for Monday match play, please contact Sylvia Swartz at syltennis@hotmail.com or at the club at 508-358-7355. 4) CMITL Results.................We would like to thank all the players who participated in playing the Central Mass League. Special thanks to all our our Captains: Vixen Peare, A-1 Gold (10th place), Cathy Baird, A-1 Silver (2nd place), Chris Mulroney, Michele Touw - Co Captains (7th place), Marsha Beatrice, Women's C (6th Place), Steve Plumb, Men's B (5th place - was in playoff hunt until last week) and Dave Reilly, Wright Nichols Co Captains (6th Place). We had many new players and teams this year and we would like to especially thank the C Women, who had many players playing in a league for the first time. Come join the fun for the next year! If you are interested in next year, please contact Lorie or Phil.
5) Spring is Here!............Spring League Play has begun at Longfellow with week 1 concluding as this is written! A special thank you to our captains: A1 Green - Kate Griffin, A2 - Julie Shepherd A3 - Cathy Boothby, B3 - Selena Semonian. NWSTL - Jill Flavin.
 | |
Young Racqueteers at the JDRF event
|
6) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Fundraiser - Thanks to all who volunteered for the JDRF Tennis Event on May 1st. We had over 20 kids join the fun. A special thanks to member Lisa Barnes and her sons, Sam and Ben Sugg, for their help.
7) College Commitments ....... Congrats to Alex Rosier, who is going to the honors school at UMass Amherst. Adam Kalowski is deciding between UConn and Northeastern! Congrats to all of our seniors!
8) Zip Zone News.....Don't forget the outdoor courts at the Zip Zone will be open on Memorial Day! We have four 36' courts on the outside of the Zip Zone and four 60' courts in back. This will be a great time of the year to get out and play with your kids. For more information, please contact the Zip Zone at 508-358-9675. 9) Girls Night Out.................The next installment of our Famous Girls Night Out is on Friday, May 20th at 6:30-8:00 pm. This is open to anyone over the age of 9 who can rally and score. It is a fun time for everyone. For more information, please call the club and ask for Sylvia Swartz or email her at syltennis@hotmail.com |
|
Aquatics News
|
At the pool we are looking forward to taking the bubble down and preparing to have a beautiful outdoor space for Memorial Day weekend! Let's hope for good weather.
 This summer we have some great programs for you. The Longfellow summer swim team will start on June 27th. It's a fun, instructional team that competes locally. Head coach Alexandra Otte will be back with coaches Janna Yamron and Laura Lawson, and they are being joined by Olga Lisogurskoya. The team is geared toward improving swimming skills while having fun.
We also offer member lessons Monday - Thursday from 11:10-11:40 am for levels 1 through 6. You can sign up by the week for these popular lessons. The regularity of swimming 4 days in a row really helps children improve quickly. Private lessons are also a great choice. We have incredible instructors and they can find a time to fit your busy schedule. You can also put together your own small group and your kids can learn with their friends.
We have Lifeguard, WSI, CPR and Lifeguard re-certification classes being offered in the spring and into the summer. Take a course and be ready for a great summer job!
Call Aquatics Director Cordelia Lydon at 508-358-7355 x 238 or e-mail longfellowswim@gmail.com for more information on any of these programs. We have many great offerings at the pool this spring and summer, but also as always you can just come hang around and enjoy the pool, kiddie pool and hot tub with your family!
|
|
Water Exercise News
|
Tips for getting the most from your Water Workouts!
 1. Make sure your flotation 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 a lot of fun too!!!
|
|
Nutrition News
|
 | |
Longfellow's Nutrition
Guru Jane Polley
|
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
|
|
Longfellow's Legendary Birthday Parties
|
 Need a fun, active and engaging place to have your child's next birthday party? At the Longfellow Children's Center and The Longfellow Club we provide just that with many different options to choose from. Our talented, enthusiastic staff will do all the work and we provide all the components of a fabulous party, leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the fun (and take pictures, of course!)
At The Children's Center, we utilize our huge indoor playground with the "Amazing Maze" and treehouse structure for lots of active fun. Our Party Coordinators know lots of age-appropriate awesome games, and our staff does all of the set-up, clean-up and everything in between, including pizza, drinks, decorated paper goods and party favors.
At The Longfellow Club, kids can choose to swim in our heated, year-round pool and play games on the basketball floor. Parents may also combine the pool with the maze at the Children's Center for the best party ever. Consider us for your next party. Tell us you read about us in the newsletter and the birthday child is free! Call us today at 508-358-0710 to schedule your child's next birthday celebration.
|
|
Group Exercise News
|
SUMMER GROUP EXERCISE SCHEDULES
The next change in schedules for both Longfellow Wayland and Lumina
will be for Tuesday May 31 - June 26. Modified monthly schedules will be available for
June 27- July 31 & then August 1 - Sept. 11, 2011.
 Please take note: LUMINA will be CLOSED on Memorial Day (May 30), July 3 and 4, and Labor Day (September 5). Please remember to take a schedule.
At Longfellow Wayland there will be MORNING classes on Memorial Day and Labor day, but there will be NO CLASSES on JULY 4th.
Please also note that some classes may be removed for the summer. There are many subs during the summer months and we will do our best to keep all classes in running.
Gym Etiquette - To ensure everyone's gym experience is safe and enjoyable, please read and adhere to the following rules and suggestions. Thanks!
- When using equipment, please put away any you have used.
- Please try to arrive on time to classes to make sure you are properly warmed up. Arriving more than 15 minutes after the start of class is more likely to result in injury due to insufficient warm up.
- Children are not allowed on the studio floors or in the studio itself while classes are going on. When a group exercise class is going on in Studio 2 that is NOT a cycling class, please use the bike outside the studio to ride until the class is done.
- Like at the movies, cell phones should not be on during classes. It is very disruptive to other members when you are talking on the phone in the middle of class. Please take it outside the classroom.
- There is NO eating on the cardio equipment. Please try to eat before or after you get on the equipment or take part in a class.
- Group Exercise Classes at Longfellow can be attended by anyone over the age of 12. At Lumina, the minimum age is 14. Thank you!
|
|
Youth Fitness News
|
SUMMER CONDITIONING for HS BOYS
Starting June 27 - August 19, Strength & Conditioning for High School Boys will be offered WEEKLY on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11-12:30.
Please PRE-REGISTER at the front desk of Longfellow Wayland and sign up for the week(s) you want. Forms are available at the front desk. Contact Teresa Newton Moineau at Tnewtonmoineau@yahoo.com for more information.
SUMMER CONDITIONING for Middle School kids 11-14
Starting June 28 - August 18, a conditioning program for middle school kids will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1:30pm. They will learn how to use all the cardiovascular equipment as well as the Keiser strength training equipment, and will be introduced to core and flexibility training as well. PRE-REGISTER at the front desk of Longfellow Wayland and sign up for the week(s) you would like. Forms are available at the front desk. Contact Teresa for more information.
|
|
11th Annual Positive Spin for ALS Bike Ride
Sunday June 12th at 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 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! |
|
Our Reason to Relay!
|
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. The team hopes to raise money and increase 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 the 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 (Natick Front Desk) and Dick Gellis (Wayland Club).
These staff members 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 a FREE massage at Rebound Physical Therapy, or a private tennis lesson with none other than Laury Hammel himself.
Raffle Winner will be announced June 1!
Donate at the Front Desk at any club or click here to give online.
|
|
Handi Racket News!
|  Saturday May 21st, The Longfellow Club & 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! Longfellow 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 & Longfellow 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. Come see us on the court on Saturdays from 3-5 pm. For more information, call Sylvia at 508-358-7355 X210. |
|
Bad Boys of Boston Do One Better!
| |
 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!
|
|
Did you know - if you refer a friend who joins Longfellow for an annual membership, then you get a free additional month added onto your membership? The more new members you refer who join, the more months you get FREE! Your friend just needs to mention your name when they join for you to get your free month. |
| |
| The Longfellow Purpose and Mission Statement |
 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 is a locally owned and independent business committed to the health and well being of our community, and provides 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 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.
|
|
|
|
|
