Try something new! SUP yoga, slacklining, DrumFIT and more are in the new Leisure Guide

The latest Town of Huntsville Spring/Summer 2018 Leisure Guide is out and in it are some new programs that redefine what fun fitness is.

Living in Huntsville, you’ve likely spent time in and on the water but if you haven’t experienced it from atop a paddleboard, you’re missing out. And in a new program offered by the Town’s Community Services department, you can add yoga to the mix. Join instructor Monica Larade for a short paddle followed by a 45-minute yoga sequence on your stand-up paddleboard. If you don’t have a board, the Town can provide an aquamat for you to use. Will you fall in? Maybe, but getting wet is part of the fun. And don’t worry if you’re not a strong swimmer – just bring a PFD along. The program runs for four weeks in each of June, July and August, rain or shine. Gain a new perspective on your fitness!

If you love yoga or want to try it for the first time, also check out the Yoga for Kids, Adult Aqua Yoga, and Saturday Morning Yoga sessions in the guide.

Also new this year: slacklining for both youth and adults. If you’ve ever watched circus performers on the highwire and thought, ‘I could do that if it was closer to the ground,’ then this program is for you! You’ll learn how to balance and maybe do a trick or two on a two-inch wide piece of webbing suspended from a few inches to a few feet off the ground. (See the main image above.) Classes in this four-week program will be held at scenic Hutcheson Beach in June.

“This program is fun and different and it’s outside, which is where we like to be,” says Simone Babineau, the Town’s Manger of Recreation and Leisure Services. “It’s great for core fitness and balance, and as your skills improve you can gradually increase the height to add more of a challenge.”

And if you love to groove to a beat, you’ll love the new DrumFIT classes for kids or adults. Combining music, drumming and physical activity, this energizing program will put a bounce in your step. It’s a fun way to get kids active — and adults, too! The eight-week program runs from April 6 to May 8. Check out the video below to see what it’s all about.

A perennial favourite, pickleball is back but this year you can play indoors or out. In addition to the courts available in the Jack Bionda Arena on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings starting April 18, pickleball can be played at the Town’s Meadow Park courts on weekday mornings. Membership in the Huntsville Racqueteers is required – see page 13 in the leisure guide for details.

And there are plenty of old favourites to choose from, like Hydrorider Aquabike spin classes in the pool, line dancing, pasta making, table tennis, inline skating, urban poling, diners club, the maker series and more. See the leisure guide for details.

All of these classes contribute to your health and well-being, but for a primer on some of the self-care techniques you’ve probably heard about but don’t know if they’re right for you, check out the Self-Care for You workshop series. This fun eight-week program will introduce you to stress-busting tips, self-massage, hydrotherapy, reflexology, yoga, aromatherapy and more. There are self-care programs for the kids in your life aged 6-10 or 11-16, too, including self-massage, H20 aromatherapy, stretching, and deep-breathing and relaxation techniques.

“This program will help you or your kids look after your own self-care and learn the tools to make choices that work for you,” says Babineau.

If you’re 55+, on your own, and want to see what activities are available to you and maybe meet some like-minded friends in the process, join one of the upcoming Solo in Huntsville sessions for coffee, a treat and a tour of the Canada Summit Centre facilities and programs.

Mark your calendar!

Spring aquatic registration begins March 20 and 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Canada Summit Centre or online.
Ever wondered about the wonders of hemp? The Many Uses of Hemp, part of the speaker series, will be held on April 26. Registration details on page 15 of the guide.
A financial health and wellness workshop — Responsibility of Being an Executor — will be held on April 28. Registration details on page 15 of the guide.
Summer Day Camp registration opens May 1 from from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Canada Summit Centre or online.
The Kids’ Bike Rodeo will be held on June 7 at Huntsville Public School, with the Mayor’s Bike Ride to follow on June 20 at River Mill Park.
Summer aquatic registration begins June 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Canada Summit Centre or online.
The Centennial Pool will be closed for maintenance on from June 11 to July 1, reopening on July 2.

Where to get more information

Remember that the Leisure Guide is no longer delivered door-to-door, but you can still see it online here or pick up a copy at municipal facilities like Town Hall, the Canada Summit Centre, or Huntsville Public Library, and other locations in the community including Algonquin Outfitters, the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, Metro, FreshCo, Foodland in Novar, Freshmart in Port Sydney, the Royal Canadian Legion, Chartwell Retirement Residences, and Community Living Huntsville.

To receive highlights of upcoming aquatic and leisure programs, new program updates, service changes and reminders, sign up for the Summit Centre e-newsletter. You can opt-in when you create a recreation account online, or contact Customer Service at 705-789-6421 if you already have an account and want to confirm that you’ll receive the newsletters.

All of these programs are offered by the Town’s Community Services department, but they’re not your only options for sports and leisure activities in the Huntsville area. Be sure to check out what local community organizations and instructors have to offer, too!

This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser