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Longfellow Life
Our Monthly Newsletter
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A message from Laury Hammel, Longfellow President 
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 Dear Members,
The management and staff of Longfellow want to express our deep sadness over the tragic shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. We feel enormous sorrow for the victims, their families, their school community, and our nation.
The directors of our Children's programs have written an email to parents of children in our children's programs. Below are excerpts from this email:
"As we try to digest the horrible events of last Friday, we would like to share the guidelines that we follow at the Longfellow Sports Club. We want you to know that our teachers consider it to be their first responsibility to keep the children in our care safe, and they will stay by their side in any eventuality. We have regular fire drills and practice runs to exit our facility. Our "safe haven" is the Natick Racquet Club unless extreme weather is the emergency and shelter is required--our children and staff are accustomed to the practice runs. These were developed in concert with the local Fire and Police Departments. We are currently talking with our local police once again to determine if any updates should be made."
"If you are concerned that your children have heard about these recent tragic events and are feeling anxious, here are some suggestions counselors and other support organizations suggest--model calm behavior; reassure children that they are safe; avoid children's exposure to news and other media accounts of the events; give plenty of hugs and spend time with your children doing calming activities such as reading or family games."
"During this time of year, when we are especially mindful of the preciousness of friends and family, we want to express our gratitude for each of the families that make up our caring and close-knit community. Longfellow is appreciative of the families that entrust their children to us. We promise to honor our responsibility with the care it deserves."
On behalf of the Longfellow staff, we wish you all a safe and light-filled holiday season.
Sincerely,
Laury Hammel, President
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Longfellow on FaceBook!
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Like the Longfellow Facebook Page and join in the fun!
Longfellow is holding a contest for the holidays. Share with us a creative and/or fun way that you relieve stress over the holidays! Every entry has two categories where it can win - the Most Likely to Succeed and the Most Humorous.
Our esteemed panel of judges - Jane Polley, Laury Hammel, Shayna Nestor, and Michael Jensen - will select the top three in each category, and then our Facebook friends will vote on their favorites. The two winners (current member or non-member) each win a free month's membership at The Longfellow Clubs.
Rules
1. One entry per person
2. 100 words or less
3. All entries must be received by midnight December 31, 2012.
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."
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Welcome Fitness Consultants, a New Era for Longfellow!
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 | | Fitness Consultant Michael Jensen |
We're thrilled to announce an exciting new program at the Longfellow Clubs starting in December. It's a new Fitness Consultation Program designed to show members the best way to achieve their health and fitness goals and keep track of their fitness progress. The Fitness Consultations are fun and informative and will make it easier for members to stick to a fitness plan.
Please welcome Michael Jensen and Janice Theriaque into their new roles as fitness consultants. Michael is new to the Longfellow team and was brought in to head the new program. He has spent over 20 years in the fitness industry and has a diverse background of experience in the field.
Michael has worked with professional basketball players as a consultant for the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and most recently managed a weight loss program for women, which helped over 200 women reach their fitness and weight loss goals. Michael has also overcome two life threatening illnesses, using fitness and nutrition to speed up the recovery process. He understands how challenging and rewarding all aspects of fitness and training can be.
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Personal Trainer and Fitness
Consultant Janice Theriaque
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Janice has been a personal trainer here at Longfellow for over 2 years and has worked with a wide variety of clients. She likes to empower people by teaching them how to improve their physical fitness level. In her additional role as Fitness Consultant, she will help members find new ways to get results and make sure they are on track to reach their yearly fitness goals. Janice is also the mother of four wonderful children.
The Fitness Consultation office is in the back of the cardio area with the sliding glass door. Both Michael and Janice are here to help anyone interested in tracking their fitness progress or looking for a way to keep on track all year long.
The new Fitness Consultations are available for a one-time fee of $90 which includes four 90 minute appointments a year.
The Fitness Consultations are fun and informative, and will make it easier for you to establish goals, measure success and keep your fitness plan.
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Please donate to those in need
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 The Longfellow Clubs will be collecting donations for the  families and victims of the Sandy Hook Tragedy. The University of Connecticut is offering scholarships for all immediate family members impacted by this tragedy. If there is leftover money, it will go toward scholarships for any Newtown residents that are accepted into UConn. Please make checks payable to The UConn Foundation and note in the memo section: For The Sandy Hook Scholarship Fund. There will be a donation collection box at the front desk at the Longfellow Sports club in Natick, and there will be a box at both Lumina and The Longfellow Club in Wayland.
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Water Exercise News
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The spirit of our Water Exercise group is a true representation of The Longfellow Core Values. Last Friday, over 30 of our regular participants gathered at Kathleen Woehrling's home for a festive holiday pot luck.
 The food was fabulous of course, but the friendship and camaraderie was second to none! Prior to the event, Kathy Miller gave the group an outstanding 1 hour and 15 minute workout. The group LOVED the extra abdominal crunches, and they really appreciated Kathy's genuine spirit and enthusiasm for their well-being.
After all of these crunches, this group proved that they are "the core" of Longfellow's Active Aging program. If you are looking for a fabulous workout, allowing you to really move in the presence of a terrific group, join any of our classes ranging from 6 am to 7 pm every day of the week. A special thanks to Kathleen for opening up her heart and home to everyone.
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Group Exercise
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 Linda Wright will be teaching Zumba on Fridays from 9:30-10:30 am, so come dance the morning away at Longfellow! Linda has been working at our clubs since the 80s, and her knowledge, experience, and energy make for some amazing classes.
Exciting news! Heidi Bassin, one of Longfellow's amazing group exercise instructors, gave birth on December 3, 2012 to a baby girl, Danica. Both Heidi and Danica are doing very well and adjusting to life at home.
On behalf of all the group exercise teachers we wish everyone a happy, safe , and healthy holiday season.
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Pre-K at Longfellow!
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 All of our Pre-K@Longfellow kids have had another busy month with science and fun activities! The children love to swim together and are really improving their skills in the water.
This week they made a Gingerbread House and it turned out fantastic! They also froze layers of colored water on top of each other so it looked like a rainbow, and then soaked celery in the colored water to see what would happen! Good job little scientists!
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Aquatics News
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 During the winter months it's hard to find activities for kids to participate in. But have no fear, registration for Session II group swim lessons is now open! Group swim lessons are a great way to get kids involved in an essential life skill for lifelong safety and fitness. Fill out a registration form online or at the front desk to secure your spot. If you have any questions about lesson availability or your child's swim level, please contact Aquatics Director Adrian Negenborn at longfellowaquatics@gmail.com. See you in the pool!
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Nutrition
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Nutritional advice can be challenging because so often we hear t wo messages that appear to conflict with each other. Taken separately, for example, the following two strategies both seem logical:
- Eat on a time schedule, and
- Eat only when you are hungry
Which of these is best to follow? Actually, they both make sense. Colder, inclement weather often means having more time at home, making it easier to succumb to too much grazing. Make it a goal to become more connected to healthy/hungry eating versus cravings/urges.
Balanced meals usually satisfy for up to 4-5 hours. But for those who exercise or live with hypoglycemia, eating smaller amounts every 2-3 hours works best. See if you can anticipate your hunger for the day. Plan the times you will eat and when you are tempted to eat in between meals, remind yourself that "the kitchen is closed" and how good the food will taste when it is time to eat. If you will dine out or attend a special event, plan around this so that you can eat right and look forward to the occasion.
Holidays are here! Enjoying our favorite foods and traditions is an important part of any healthy eating plan. The USDA MyPlate food guidelines encourage us with simple words: ENJOY YOUR FOOD BUT EAT LESS. This, of course, means eating less of the foods that we might over-indulge in.
Our taste buds will appreciate it if we can savor good food and eat moderately. The eating experience is much more enjoyable when we acknowledge "taste bud fatigue." Eating to excess causes taste buds to become saturated, at which point food starts to have a diminishing return. Be aware of this while eating and notice how much more enjoyable your Latke or piece of pie is when you can actually savor the taste!
And remember, nutritional counseling is covered under most health insurance plans. Happy Holidays!
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Fitness News
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The new year is right around the corner! But why wait until then to put your fitness program into high gear? Every day is the best time to set distractions aside and put your health and energy first!
But for all you die hard New Year's Resolutionists, please know FITT Club 3 will be starting right after we move into 2013. Kick start your workout or get an early start working on your resolution with this 4-week intense circuit session.
Each class will incorporate strength, cardio, core and high intensity interval training. Space will fill up fast. Contact Co-Fitness Director Dan Salerno at 508-653-4633 to reserve your spot.
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Tennis News
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 JUNIOR PROGRAMS
The second Session of the Junior Clinics have started. Most of the clinics are completely filled, but there is still room in some of the classes for any junior who wants to get involved.
If you are looking to participate, please call the Racquet Club at 508-563-4606 and ask for Pat Loranger if your child is 10 years or younger, or Erin Reeves if your child is 11 years or older.
In addition to the junior clinics, we offer round robin play for juniors enrolled in our clinics, high school doubles nights, and grand prix tournament play once a month. If interested in finding out more about our junior program, go to natickjuniortennis.com and check them out.
ADULT PROGRAMS
Interested in learning how to play tennis or improving your play? Join one of our adult clinics. Clinics are offered on
- Thursdays from 12 - 1:30 p.m.;
- Monday evenings 6:30 - 8 p.m. & 7 - 8:30; and
- Thursday evenings from 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Call the club to sign up. A new session starts after the New Year.
We also offer mixed doubles on Sunday nights and men's drills on Wednesday evenings.
As a new member, we will give you a complimentary half hour on-court evaluation and get you involved in a group and level appropriate for you. Come check us out!
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A Once in a Lifetime Wimbledon Fantasy Opportunity -
Watch Wimbledon from seats next to the Royal Box |  Longfellow has long been a partner with the Sportsmen's Tennis and Enrichment Center and they are once again auctioning off spectacular seats at next June's 2013 Wimbledon Championships! All proceeds benefit this wonderful nonprofit organization serving under-served youth in Boston. If interested, please contact the Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center at 617-288-9092.
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Video and Article about Laury Hammel's
Social Venture Network Hall of Fame Induction | As reported in the last newsletter, owner and founder of Longfellow, Laury Hamme l along with 24 other luminaries was recently inducted into the first Social Venture Network Hall of Fame. We invite you to check out this fun video that features Laury twice, and his daughter Eliza as well. We think it's pretty cool. (link to SVN Hall of Fame Celebration Video)
"But perhaps it's more accurate to say these entrepreneurs are sharing the baton rather than passing it. Judy Wicks and Laury Hammel--both founders of socially conscious companies--accepted their award for creating the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). The two have been champions of sustainable business for more than 30 years, and an exuberant Hammel made clear they had no plans to slow down. "It's time to take a stand," he exhorted the cheering audience. "We've got a lot of work to do. Even though a lot of us are turning 65, we're just getting started. Let's go!"
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Birthday Parties
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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 Sports Club offers an amazing party environment.
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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Want to Spread the Word?
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 Are you involved in a local fundraising or other special event? Members of the Longfellow family are always involved in one or another awesome benefit or cool activity. Let all your Longfellow friends know what you're doing out there to make the world a better and cooler place. We'd like to promote your good cause by including a photo and information about the event in our Member Newsletter and Social Media. Please contact Sean at 508 653 4633 ext.507 or email ssulli9931@aol.com Thanks!
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Massage at 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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 Add a Free Month or Two
(or more)
to your Membership!
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Did you know, if you refer a friend and they join Longfellow for an annual membership, you get a free additional month on your membership? The more friends you refer, the more months you get FREE! Your friend just has to mention your name when they join.
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Save $20 on
ANY Birthday Party!
Have your child's Birthday Party at the Longfellow Sports Club!
Dance, Yoga, Munchkin, Arts and Crafts, Sports or Pool Parties!
Call Lisa Furdon @ 508 653 4633 for more details.
Coupon Expires 12/31/2012
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The Longfellow Clubs' Purpose, Mission Statement, and Core Values
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- 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.
The Longfellow Core Values Mandala We work to support the Longfellow Purpose and Mission Statement, embody the Longfellow Core Values, and lead by example as we: - Wow our members every day with extraordinary Customer Service
- Foster a caring and inclusive Longfellow Community and treat others with Respect and Dignity
- Create experiences that result in life-long Health and Transformation
- Contribute to our Community and our environment
- Express Appreciation with affirming words and deeds
- Make Longfellow Sparkle
- Share what we Know and Seek to learn more
- Deliver Happiness and have fun doing it
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Inc. Magazine did a story on the Hall of Fame ceremony that was coincidentally written by Sudbury resident, Leigh Buchanan. Below is a link to the story that ends with a terrific quote from Laury: