Recreation center needs fitness trainer

The city of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services has announced an opening in the fitness class schedule and is seeking a certified fitness instructor to provide a weekly class.В

The staff is looking for an instructor that would be able to provide an ongoing class at on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.В

Classes offered include yoga, mat pilates and Zumba.В

The fitness program offered at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center provides ongoing classes Monday through Friday to participants ages 14 and older.

or come by the recreation center at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Treasure Valley programs can help you keep your fitness resolutions

The Treasure Valley Family YMCA has a program that can help you keep your promise to lose weight in 2010. For $89 a month, the YMCA"s WellChieve program provides:

One-on-one monthly meetings with a wellness coach.

Weekly group sessions to get help and support.

WellChieve 30-day wellness journal.

Online access to your wellness coach.

YMCA facility access during your WellChieve participation. In addition, the YMCA joining fee will be waived when you complete WellChieve.

Visit www. wellchieve. com for more information.

You have to be in the right mindset to keep any new year"s resolution. Consider attending a special two-hour workshop, "Mantras, Mudras and Meditation," designed to help you de-stress and get grounded. Learn how to prepare and build a strong foundation by using your breath, your voice and yogic hand gestures to think more clearly and boost your confidence.

The workshop is being offered in Eagle at The Yoga Pilates Center (515 S. Fitness Place) at 6 p. m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, or at 6 p. m. Friday, Jan. 29. Price is $25, and space is limited. No yoga experience necessary.

To register, contact Monica McMahon at 866-6275 or go to www. theyogapilatescenter. com.

This new gym is the third Koko FitClub in the nation, and, in honor of the new year, the club is offering $50 off the membership fee and a free first session.

Koko FitClub offers unlimited monthly personal training through the Koko Smartraining System, which creates a personal 30-minute workout plan for you, guides you through each session and changes it daily based on your progress, then automatically monitors your results.

Koko FitClub is located at 1626 S. Wells Ave. , Suite 110. More information: www.

During January, free use of the Boise State campus recreation facilities and programs is being extended to all BSU faculty, staff, Alumni Association members and Varsity B members who are not current campus recreation members.

There are prize drawings and other incentives each week. To sign up, bring your university ID or alumni member card to the service desk in the Student Recreation Center. For more information, call Heather Carlson, promotions coordinator for Boise State campus recreation, at 426-5674 or e-mail heathercarlson2@boisestate. edu.

Former Mr. USA Ivan Rusilko is just one of the many experts you"ll get advice from if you join the Maintain Fit 2010 Fitness Jumpstart program.

The program, which runs for six weeks, includes access to the live expert sessions via the Internet and offers training information for all levels, from beginner to ultra-fit.

Jumpstart was created by Boisean Daniel Watrous, the author of "The Accidental Runner. "

The program costs $47 and begins the third week of January. Register by Jan. 16 at www. maintainfit. com/2010jumpstart.

$10,000 TREASURE VALLEY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

Register by Jan. 23 to take part in the $10,000 Treasure Valley Weight Loss Challenge, which benefits the Humphreys Diabetes Center. The $50 registration fee includes weekly health tips, free monthly activities and an athletic carrying bag with special offers from event partners.

Register at Ladd Family Pharmacy, 1109 S. Broadway Ave. , Boise, or at the Meridian office of the diabetes center (Suite 1229 at St. Luke"s Meridian Medical Center). The final weigh-in and awards will be Thursday, June 17. E-mail info@hdiabetescenter. org for more information. Or call 331-1155.

Registration for the 12-week-long Gold"s Gym Body Success Challenge runs through Jan. 30. To participate, call 389-GOLD (4653) or visit one of the Treasure Valley Gold"s Gym locations on ParkCenter or Fairview in Boise, or in Meridian.

The contest helps Gold"s Gym members by providing them with tools to make healthful changes in their lives, and rewards their success with cash and prizes.

Core wins top prize in Friday Fitness race

JAKE Core came on top in the Friday Fitness Event organised by the Royal Golf Club"s (RGC) at its premises.

A common sight in the UK and Europe was visible at the RGC to promote the fitness of its members.

Members of the club discarded their golf carts for the Friday Fitness event and took to the fairways on foot, the eigh-km walk around the stunning Montgomerie Championship Course was enjoyed by all.

Three members - Core, Core Barry Hobday and Michael Pederson completed the event on 34 points each.

However, it was Core who finished ahead on count back.

Hobday came second and Michael Pederson made up the top three with a score of 34 points also but just missing out on count back.

Nearest the pin hole two winner was Dick Potter while nearest the pin hole 16 competition was won by Nathan Williams.

"When I go home and play golf I walk and that"s how I grew up with golf so more events like these should be encouraged, not only is it good for you it"s a beautiful course to walk," said Core.

Age no obstacle in quest for fitness

, she doesn"t think much about it. She just does it.

One of the oldest members of the gym community, Fiorentino said she has always been committed to physical fitness but the need increases as she ages.

"It"s just like taking a shower. Г It"s a lifestyle," she said. "It has to be."

Fiorentino works out four days a week, taking Pilates, step class, weight training and dance. Pilates helps her with toning and balance, step keeps her mind sharp and demands that she think on her feet, and weight training helps her maintain muscle mass, she said.

Her favorite workout is cardio dance class. She attends a weekly Zumba class, a high-low impact dance class with Latin-style movement.

She embraces the moves and can hold her own with the younger group in attendance.

"I have always enjoyed dancing," she said. "I did ballroom when I lived in New York. I like the flow of the movement. It is much more enjoyable."

Fiorentino looks at fitness in a constructive and productive way, as a disciplined life in which one"s entire sphere benefits. She began working out in her 20s and says it has helped her deal with all of life"s issues.

Fiorentino was widowed at 34. She found herself raising five children under 11 years of age while she worked toward a master"s degree in rehabilitative education from Boston College. Exercise helped her every step of the way, she said.

"It was my outlet, my socialization and my stress relief," she said.

Fiorentino had surgery in September and started walking the halls of the hospital the day after.

"It wasn"t easy but I had to do it," she said. "If you have a problem and are in good shape going into it, then your recovery is much faster."

The mental benefits of physical fitness are also great, she said.

"If you are depressed, then you are giving fragments of yourself away. You work better in unison and the feeling of well-being is transferred."

Fiorentino continues to transfer that well-being to others. Michele Hall, 44, who attends Pilates classes with Fiorentino, says that when she is feeling sorry for herself, trying to drag herself out of bed and to the gym, she thinks of Anna.