Community Corner
Registration Now Open for Adult and Youth Winter Classes at the Medfield Park & Recreation Department
Need a way to stay active this winter? Consider one of the many adult fitness classes or any number of youth classes in arts, drama, sports, etc. Classes begin in January at the Pfaff Center.
In an effort to avoid cabin fever or the winter blues -- once the snow finally falls -- consider registering for one of the many winter session courses that will be available at the Medfield Park & Recreation Pfaff Center at 124 North Street.
Registration is now open and can be done on-line.
Classes are available for people of all ages with children’s classes mainly focused on fun, and adult classes focused on fitness.
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Adult program choices include body sculpting; circuit training; snowshoe/trek; step, strength and stretching; T’ai Chi; and yoga.
Jennifer Jaques teaches several exercise classes at the Pfaff Center, including T’ai Chi, a 2000-year-old martial art that uses a universal set of 24 steps to relax the mind and body.
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“It’s the same set of 24 steps so you could go to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and we’re all doing the same thing,” said Jaques of Medfield, who has been a fitness instructor in the Boston area for more than 30 years.
She said her T’ai Chi students experience a nice break from the stresses of everyday life.
“I really feel relaxed when I leave; I feel good when I go home,” said Sarah Daitch of Walpole, who has taken T’ai Chi with Jacques for several sessions.
“I have found this weekly T’ai Chi class to be my little oasis in an otherwise crazy schedule,” said Karen Glass of Millis. “You really have to let go of the clutter in your mind and focus on the moves in order to do them right. It's not hard, but it does take concentration and when you focus on the moves, you'd be amazed at how relaxing it is to let go of all the other things running through your mind.”
“It’s really stress-reducing and mind relaxing,” said Deb Bero of Medfield, noting it is also good for building coordination and helping bone density.
Many of the adult classes at the Pfaff Center are co-ed.
“We move around in such a way that there is gravity on different body parts than what we do walking or sitting at a desk all day, “The good feeling you get in the class lasts for several days afterwards,” said Steve Borkan.
“I love it,” said Osler Peterson. “It’s really relaxing, very meditative, and I think it’s very helpful for balance.”
Children courses include more stimulating options such as arts (cooking, crafting, dancing), science, sports (basketball, fencing, hockey, karate, skating), and movie nights. There are also courses in babysitting and First Aid.
MPR officials say their most popular children’s class is the “Munch, Crunch & More” cooking class for kids ages 3 to 5 years old.
Another long-time favorite, which often fills up quickly, is “Sticky Icky Sticky Goo” where children ages 2 to 6 years old use shaving cream, PlayDoh, and other sticky materials to make an icky, sticky, gooey mess.
The MPR also arranges field trips on Early Release school days like the one planned for Nashoba Valley Snow Tubing Park on February 8. The trip is $60 per child and includes transportation and three hours of tubing. Children will return to town at 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to register for a class, visit www.town.medfield.net
