Address: 3577 South Ocean Blvd., South Palm Beach, Florida 33480
Phone: (561) 588 - 8889
Building Department Hours of Operation: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday thru Friday
Town Hall Hours by Appointment: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday
TAI CHI CLASS | WEDNESDAYS | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
STRETCH CLASS | WEDNESDAYS | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
STRETCH CLASS | FRIDAYS | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
YOGA CLASS | SATURDAYS | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy, that originated several thousand years ago. Yoga began as a spiritual practice, but it has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being. Although classical yoga also includes other elements, yoga as practiced in the United States typically emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana). Popular yoga styles such as iyengar, bikram, and hatha yoga focus on these elements. Several traditional yoga styles encourage daily practice with periodic days of rest, whereas others encourage individuals to develop schedules that fit their needs.
Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. In this ongoing drop-in class, we will learn how to practice together with guided meditations, learn about the research behind mindfulness and its benefits and explore other mindfulness practices like mindful eating, mindful movement, mindful self-compassion and loving-kindness.
Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle or tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle's felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility, and range of motion. Stretching is also used therapeutically to alleviate cramps.
Tai chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art that descends from qigong, an ancient Chinese discipline that has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. (The people that you see moving gracefully with flowing motions in parks throughout China, and increasingly throughout much of the modern world, are practicing tai chi.) According to some records, tai chi dates back as far as 2,500 years! It involves a series of slow, meditative body movements that were originally designed for self-defense and to promote inner peace and calm. According to the tai chi historian Marvin Smalheiser, some tai chi masters are famous for being able to throw an attacker effortlessly to the floor with the attacker and spectators unable to clearly see how it was done. Their movements use internal energy and movements too subtle for most people to observe, reflected in the notion that "four ounces can deflect a thousand pounds." At this high level of skill, a defender can use a small amount of energy to neutralize the far greater external force of an attacker.
Chair Tai Chi is a gentle exercise program to help people receive the benefits of traditional Tai Chi in the comfort and safety of their chair. This allows people who cannot stand or do not feel confident with their balance (walker, wheelchair, movement disorder) to participate and benefit. Those benefits include balance, flexibility, range of motion, strength, energy, pain relief, tranquility, stress reduction, and peace of mind.
Yin yoga is based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang, opposite and complementary principles in nature. Yin is the stable, unmoving, hidden aspect of things; yang is the changing, moving, revealing aspect. In the body, the relatively stiff connective tissues (tendons, ligaments, fascia) are yin, while the more mobile and pliable muscles and blood are yang. A Yin yoga class usually consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that mainly work the lower part of the body - the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine. These areas are especially rich in connective tissues. The poses are held for up to five minutes, sometimes longer.
Zumba Gold is a fabulously fun fitness program based on exciting Latin and international dance styles. It’s similar stylistically and musically to regular Zumba®, but it’s performed at a lower intensity level to be more accessible to certain people. Zumba Gold is intended for active older adults, Zumba beginners, fitness newbies, and other people that may need modified exercises. Zumba Gold offers cardiovascular, toning, and balance training benefits in a party-like atmosphere. The moves are designed to be easy-to-follow for everyone. You don’t need any dance experience or exercise experience at all to get started. Like regular Zumba, Zumba Gold is exhilarating and effective, offering a full-body workout at a less intense level.