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So this winter, I've joined up for a season of play in the Burlington Chapter of Squarefour, "the world's first four square league." Four people play at a time, each standing at his or her own chalk-line square. The object of the game is to spend as much time as possible in the "four square," the square from which the ball gets served. A player joins the game in the "one square" and progresses to the "four square" as the other players get knocked out of the game. Call Mary LeTourneau for information on signing up for the league at 508-942-2403. There's a moderate fee for joining, but it's cheaper than a gym membership and worth it for the entertainment. E-mail burlington@squarefour.org for more information. Golf much? Try an indoor simulator to keep your swing up. You won't get the exercise of walking round the course, but you will keep in practice, especially if you find a "full swing" simulator, such as he one at the Woodbury Golf Course located in one of Vermont's more rural areas, about 25 miles north of Montpelier and just south of the Northeast Kingdom. "You can play 9 or 18 holes," explains Woodbury Golf Course shareholder Lenora Thompson. "And you can hit just as hard as if you were outside, so you get that exercise. (The simulator) can help keep your swing up." To sign up to use the simulator, contact Kirk Thompson (802-456-7421) for tee times or e-mail par3@earthlink.net. "You’ll need all your clubs, even the putter," said Thompson. "And call ahead for tee times because only one group can play at a time." If you want an indoor activity but aren't interested in team sports, try "mall walking." If you're unfamiliar with mall walking, here's the gist: people use the vast sheltered and heated corridors that connect the mall's stores as a track. There is no commitment to shop. In fact, a large number of mall walkers get their walks in before the stores are even open. Barbara Sandillo, general manager of Rutland's Diamond Run Mall, says their mall walking group is quite active and growing. Walkers start showing up around 7 a.m., well before most stores open. At least one "regular" does 10 miles a day inside the mall. One trip around the mall is an easy half-mile. She notices many seniors prefer the early morning walk, whereas the office crowd trickles in mid-day and evening. No matter what the weather's doing outside, the mall remains a comfortable temperature for a stroll or a brisk, heart-pumping power walk. "It's a great meeting place . . . everyone's very congenial," Sandillo remarks. In addition to offering indoor walking, Diamond Run maintains a popular nature trail system outside the mall. When cold sets in, many people who frequent the Diamond Run Trails head indoors and join the mall walkers, meeting both their social and fitness needs. There are many gyms and fitness centers in Vermont, including several newly opened. Most gyms offer far more than traditional treadmills and free weights. Consider the monthly fee a long-term investment in your health. "We have camps for kids at Christmas break," says Sherry Brown, membership director at Twin Oaks Sports and Fitness in South Burlington. "We have group fitness programs, senior programs, aqua classes, yoga, tennis, swim teams." And that, she says, is just to name a few. People who lake-swim in summer can find a pool and swim laps in winter to keep up their form. Those who run when roads are ice-free can keep their hearts strong by jogging on a treadmill winters. Cyclists can take spinning classes to keep their quads in shape. Working out indoors can sometimes be more motivating than solitary outdoor activities because you can join a group and have other people to cheer you on, says Brown. "The motivation is to keep your fitness level up," she said. "And also use your strength training. Most people aren't doing that at home, and that is such a key part of staying healthy." So whether you're the competitive type or happy walking circles with friends and conversation, there are ways to keep active and warm through our long winter season. Keep your eyes open for flyers at your local grocery store, coffee shop and post office for information about organized indoor activities in your area. If you don’t find a group that fits your interests, think about starting a group of your own. Call an area school for space availability; it could be a great, inexpensive (or free) resource for space and equipment use. Don’t let the cold keep you from staying active and having fun. Freelance writer Cassandra Brush contributed to this article. |
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