Ballard Health Club Newsletter

December 2014
In This Issue
Holiday Hours

BHC Staff Party:
Saturday 12/6
8:00am - 6:00pm

Christmas:
Wednesday 12/24
5:30am - 3:00pm
Thursday 12/25
closed
Friday 12/26
8:00am - 10:00pm

New Year:
Wednesday 12/31
5:30am - 3:00pm
Thursday 1/1
closed
Holiday Hustle Workout

Give this Holiday Hustle Workout a shot during this holiday season! Complete four rounds of the following as quickly as you can. Ask anyone on staff if you have any questions!

1 minute jump rope
25 squat jumps
25 burpees
25 sit ups 
Changes to Class Schedule
Tuesdays
6:30-7:30am

Wednesdays
7:45-8:35pm

Longer Yoga Classes:
 
Mondays
7:30-8:45pm

Tuesdays
7:15-8:30pm

Wednesdays
6:15-7:30pm

Facebook Challenge
Joanna Luporini was the winner of our Facebook challenge a few weeks ago. She correctly solved the Photo of the Day anagram and won a $25 Starbucks gift card. 
 

Time for another challenge!
 
  

How many towels does Ballard Health Club fold, on average, each month? 
 

Visit our Facebook page to find the challenge post and submit your guess by December 10th. The winner will be the first person with the closest guess and will be awarded a $25 gift card to Starbucks. One guess per person please. You do not need to be a member to win. Good luck!
Suncadia Retreat Success!

Ballard Health Club's first retreat at Suncadia's Grand Fir Lodge was a smashing success!

 

Karen and Aeron led a full house for the Yoga and Strength Retreat November 6-9. The group enjoyed yoga, hiking, meditation, strength training and some extra time to relax.


Be on the lookout for another BHC retreat this spring in Suncadia!

 


A New Look for BHC
The staff at Ballard Health Club has been working to bring a new look for the club!

 

We are standardizing our logo and creating a singular look for our great community here that everyone can identify with.  

You will begin seeing this new image around the club as we move forward with this exciting change!

 

A Special THANKS to BHC member - Ben Alberson - for all his help and advice!

New Junior Memberships


Did you know that we have a special membership for teens, 15-17 years old? 
 

Our Junior Memberships are for mature teenagers 15-17 years of age. Our club has been allowing entrance to this age group since last June and it has been a seamless and positive addition within our community.
  

Juniors have two options when purchasing a membership:
  

1.) Monthly renewing membership $29.00/month
(First and last month required at sign up)
 

2.) Yearly membership $290.00

Don't Forget - "Friendly Fridays"

On Friday Nights after 7:30pm, we are now we are now offering complementary drop-in visits to all guests accompanied by a current club member.  Let your friends experience the things you love about BHC and make the most of a Friday night. 
Yoga Instructor Cobey In Children's Theater Musical
Ballard Health Club's yoga instructor Cobey Mandarino is playing in the Seattle Children's Theater production,
Dick Wittington and His Cat. Tickets are available through the website, and the show is running through December 21st.
Quick Links...
 
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!

Welcome to the Ballard Health Club Newsletter. We value your membership at BHC and want to keep you informed of what's going on at the club along with any offers of things that may interest you.

We look forward to staying in touch!

-The BHC Team
A Note from the Class Director
Having a difficult time getting motivated to work out? We've entered a season of high volume food consumption. A steady workout routine will help ease the stress of the season. If you're someone that can work the machines or get your groove on at the elliptical, check in with our trainers to freshen up your routine. But if you're like me, and you're more likely to work out with a friend or in a group, take a look at BHC's class schedule. We have over 40 classes a week. Try some yoga! Yoga Basics are great classes to start or refresh your practice. We've just added two classes with Maria, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8am and Bayeshan on Thursdays at 4pm.

If you're looking to sweat we have amazing instructors for that too! Elana is teaching Cardio-Sculpt on Fridays at 6:30am. And if you haven't noticed, INSANITY is on our schedule. Our new instructor Jeff Onorato is a certified BeachBody Coach and instructor. INSANITY uses MAX Interval Training, adding high-intensity exercise to force the body to use fast-twitch muscle fibers not normally engaged in cardio exercise. These fibers continue burning fuel even during lower-intensity exercise. Take Jeff's class on Wednesday nights at 7:45pm and Friday nights at 5:30pm, or with me (Karen) on Tuesdays at 6:30am.
New Trainer:
Meet Aimee Miller

Aimee and her family have recently moved to Seattle from Illinois and she is now part of the BHC crew.


After being the participant of a 12 week test group for a fitness program, Aimee went through a life changing transformation into fitness. With those results, she decided to focus on helping others working toward their own fitness goals.  
 
Aimee believes fitness is for everyone and anyone can change their life through fitness.  The fitness programs she designs focus on building a strong core, strength training, and cardio that is fun.

Aimee has experience with running, yoga, strength training, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval) training. She believes the keys to reaching your fitness goals are finding effective training that you enjoy and consistency.  

Please give Aimee a warm BHC and Ballard welcome and find a spot with her on the fitness training appointment boards!
Member Spotlight:
Rachel Moorhead

How long have you been a member of Ballard Health Club?
Fourteen years

What is your favorite piece of equipment or exercise to do in the gym?
I like doing heavy free weights the best!

Why do you workout?
It boosts my mood, and reduces the risk of two diseases that run in my family - breast cancer and osteoporosis. Also, I like to eat a terrifying amount, so I need to offset my love of chocolate and mashed potatoes with some serious activity. ;)

What do you do to workout?
I usually come to BHC three days a week to do heavy free weights, the elliptical, and/or interval sprints on the treadmill. On the other days, I like to mix it up with hiking or running outside and Pilates.

What in the gym has worked for you in attaining your goals?
The fastest, best results I have seen are from increasing my weights )nope, women, I swear we won't bulk up hugely!) and interval sprints - which I hate, because they are painful - but so effective!

Why do you chose to workout at BHC?
The staff here is amazing - I seriously love seeing them every week, and the gym is no-frills, basic but comprehensive, and members include all body types and ages. Also, the price is amazing for what you get!

 

Workshops at Ballard Health Club


Restorative Yoga and Poetry with Elliot Tillman

Saturday, December 13th 1:00-3:00pm

Yoga instructor Elliott Tillman with Poet Jonathan Swerdlick for a one and a half hour restorative yoga workshop featuring poetry read aloud. Begin with very gently warm-up movements and finish with a long series of restorative yoga poses that take full advantage of blankets, blocks and bolsters. Let your body be quieted while your mind is opened by works of poetry both great and small from around the world. This workshop is accessible to all ages and abilities, including those healing from injury. Come to linger quietly for a few moments in each pose and savor the simple sweetness of restoration, poetry and yoga. 


Discover the Power of Chanting with MJ Daniels

Saturday, January 17, 1:30-3:00pm

  

Come sing and celebrate your spirit and soul! In this workshop, MJ Daniels will start by teaching breath awareness and vocal warm-ups. We will explore a variety of chants to awaken and enliven our beings. Chanting of mantras produces positive vibrations, bringing benefits to the one who chants as well as those who listen. By repetition of the mantra, the participant absorbs the power and energy of the specific mantra. Understanding the meaning of the chants helps us to set our intentions for what the mantra represents. Chanting of mantras generates potent healing vibrations. It's also just fun to sing! In the second half of the class we will be adding some movement and postures to the chants. Class will end with relaxation through vibrational sound of Tibetan Prayer bowls, chimes and bells. No experience necessary.

 

Barbell Basics with Allison Raines

Saturday, January 31st 1:30-3:30pm  


Beginning in the classroom, this workshop will focus on using and noticing correct form while performing compound barbell movements. Learn to correctly execute back squats, front squats, military press, dead lifts and bench press. Using light bars, we will discuss the mechanics of lifting, how it benefits you and how to create a program. We will learn each of the positions and what they look like in others. We will eventually make our way out to the main gym floor where you will use the racks and learn how to add weight safely to each movement.   



Cost to attend workshops: $20 for members, $30 for non-members ($20 plus $10 drop-in fee at the time osf workshop).

Nutritional Did You Know...
From BHC's Stephanie Gray
Personal Trainer / Nutrition Coach

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day!   

Eating within an hour of waking up is imperative in jump-starting your metabolism. But did you know it will also help turn off the hormone cortisol? Cortisol is at its peak before awakening and one of its functions is to break down muscle protein to use as fuel for the body. If you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle mass you want to keep your muscle protein. So start your day right and fuel on a well-balanced breakfast instead!

Breakfast ideas: Try oatmeal cooked with low-fat milk, sliced almonds and fruit, or an egg frittata with mixed veggies, low-fat cheese and a slice of whole wheat toast.  

Recipes: Winter Frittata
College Freeze Plan

 

Ballard Health Club has developed a special deal for students who leave to attend college during the school year.  
 

How does this work?

College students may freeze their memberships when they leave for the school year, up to nine months (normal freeze is limited to three months). When students are home on a break, they may purchase a Month Pass for $45 (normally $55) or a Week Pass for $15 (normally $25) without taking their account off hold. 
 
This means students can be frozen during the school year, and have the benefit of an inexpensive and easy way to work out when they are home. To take advantage of this arrangement, we simply require proof of enrollment at a college or university.
BHC and Solo Lofts
Bringing you (More of) the Best in Ballard

We are happy to announce that the partnership between BHC and Solo Lofts has been extended through the end of December. Solo Lofts is a 20 unit condominium building on NW 57th Steet. Three blocks from BHC. Through December 31st, accepted offers will include a one year membership to BHC!*
 
Please visit the Solo Lofts office at 2041 NW 57th St., Loft 103, or at www.SoloLofts.com to learn more about Solo and this exciting partnership with the Ballard Health Club.

 

*Rules and restrictions: Applies to offers submitted during December 2014 and mutually accepted by December 31, 2014, one membership per purchase. Redeemable at closing
From the Owner

Since parking is an important issue with anything in Ballard, I thought it best to use this month's "From the Owner" to talk about that a bit.

As part of our lease, we have use of the parking lot on 56th between 22nd and 24th. There is a BHC sign at the entrance to this lot. This is within the same block as the club (no need to cross a street). There are 40 parking spaces in this lot with approximately 10 used by others in the Ballard Building during the day. As of 5pm each weekday, all 40 spaces are for use by BHC. We also have use of the Chase bank lot outside of banking hours. There are 30 spaces for cars in the Chase lot.

With all that said, here is what our free parking availability is:  
 

Weekdays: 70 parking spaces available from 5:30am to 9:00am and from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. 40 spaces are available from 5:00pm to 6:00pm and there are always 30 available during the day (9:00am to 5:00pm).

Saturdays: 70 spaces from 8:00am to 9:00am and after 1:00pm. 40 spaces when the bank is open.

Sundays and Holidays: 70 available parking spaces for BHC all day.

Considering all the difficulties with parking Ballard, we have it pretty good at BHC. With our most dense use of the club starting just after 6:00pm on weeknights, it works well that all 70 spaces are available at that time. Weekends are very seldom an issue for finding BHC parking and that is the same for most of the time during weekdays. Our toughest challenge is some weekend mornings during popular classes when our lot can fill up. With our goal of making things better for our members, we are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve our parking.

As always, I'm open to suggestions on this and any other component of the club you have an idea or comment for.

  
Sincerely,

Pat Gilbrough
Owner, Ballard Health Club
pat@ballardhealthclub.com