Congratulations to Giovanna Kolofer!

We love it when our local athletes shine and their hard work pays off with success and opportunities that are created by their own initiative and effort. Such is the case with local softball star Giovanna Kolofer. Giovanna recently graduated from Notre Dame High School where she excelled as a starting third baseman all four years. A three-time all league TCAL, Monterey Herald and Salinas Californian member, Giovanna led the county in stolen bases for two years, led as the Team Captain for three years and hit over .520 last year. Giovanna also contributed to her schools cross country team, finishing in the top 20 in the county.

Giovanna is heading to University of Delaware in the fall on a full athletic scholarship - the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.

Giovanna has been a regular at the Sports Center for years, challenging herself in cardiovascular, strength, flexibility and core conditioning workouts and working with her father and brother as they all created a disciplined, family approach to their athletic careers. Father Eddie was a standout quarter-miler in College, running 46 seconds and brother Scott is one of the top junior triathletes in the world, training and competing with the triathlon program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Here's an interview Gianna did with Monterey Herald sports writer John Devine back in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cmRiiuxsGI

All of us wish Giovanna and her family continued future success and good luck playing for the Blue Hens!

We're Having a Party!

The Sports Center hosts over 1 million visitors every year - the warmest, safest, cleanest, friendliest place in Monterey.

The Sports Center is turning twenty-one! That's right, this Saturday the Sports Center is celebrating our twenty-first anniversary. The Swim Gym has come a long way since the community envisioned a recreation facility that would serve the fitness and health needs of families, youth, seniors and all members of our multi-dimensional community. Come celebrate with us this Saturday, June 1st. We'll have refreshments, drawings to win Sports Center merchandise, personal training packages, memberships and more. We'll be hosting the party from 11:00 am through 2:00 pm, so drop by and join in the fun. The Sports Center is the pride of Monterey - a treasure for the community, by the community. From all of the staff here at the Sports Center, we hope you drop by so we can let you know how much we appreciate all the years of support you have given us.

Do You Kettlebell?

Group Exercise Coordinator Lauri Ataide takes the group through a challenging workout using kettlebells.

Have you tried Kettlebell yet? Kettlebell classes are challenging and when taught by a qualified, experienced instructor can help your body in a lot of ways. Great for toning muscles, building strong bones and combining cardiovascular activity with strengthening work in a single workout, kettlebell classes also strengthen your core abdominal and back musculature, keeping you functionally strong for all the activities you need to do in your busy day. The Sports Center schedule features both Kettlebell Sculpt and Kettlebell Workout Classes. The Monterey Sports Center staff emphasizes technique and proper form in their classes. Kettlebell Workout with Susan is offered Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday's Kettlebell Sculpt with Tricia at 12:15 p.m., and Kettlebell Workout with Susan at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday's Kettlebell Workout with Lauri at 12:15 and Kettlebell Sculpt with Tracey at 6:15 p.m., Thursday's Kettlebell Workout with Lauri at 9:15 a.m., and Kettlebell Workout with Marcia at 5:30 p.m., Saturday's Kettlebell Workout with Tricia at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday's Kettlebell Workout with Tracey at 8:45 a.m.

Group Exercise Schedule Offers 122 Classes Every Week

The Monterey Sports Center has a class for just about anyone at just about any time. Our Group Exercise Coordinator Laurie Ataide has developed an amazing schedule and features a select group of outstanding instructors. Laurie has been with the Sports Center for twenty years and during that time she has built a schedule that balances between therapeutic and stretching classes that benefit senior and individuals with limited physical abilities to athletic and high intensity classes that attract the Peninsula's gifted athletes.

Starting at 5:45 in the morning, one can get a great early morning workout in our Studio II with Cycle Express on Monday, Cycling on Tuesday and Cycling on Friday. You can follow that up with a stretching session using foam rollers at 6:30 on Monday, or try the Total Body Conditioning at 6:00 on Tuesday, the Cycle Sculpt class at 6:00 on Wednesday or the Cross-Fit style Athletic Training class at 6:00 on Thursday.

Things slow down a bit at 7 am with Yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and a very creative Aqua Yoga class in our pool on Thursdays. Classes continue throughout the day, mixing challenging classes like VO2 Max, Functional Fusion, HIIT, RIPPED, Kettlebell, BOSU, Functional Strength, Hi/Low Recharge, and Power Core with relaxing classes like Aqua Splash, Nia Technique, Healthy Start, Pilates Contrology, Bone Builder, H20Workout and multiple Yoga classes.

The Sports Center schedule also features creative, new classes like Boxing Workout, HIIT for H20 Sports, HIIT Outside (think bootcamp), Sports Stretch and Ai Chi. Like to dance? Try Zumba, Hot Fusion, Zumba Blast, Cardio Dance Party or Aqua Zumba. Training for your first Triathlon - try Endurance Swimming.

For a complete list of all of our classes, check here: http://www.monterey.org/Portals/1/sportscenter/pdfs/GroupExerciseJune1.pdf

Senior Fitness can be Fun! Announcing our new Bone Builder Classes taught by Terri Bilbro, RN. Terri is a well-know fitness trainer and instructor on the Monterey Peninsula and will be offering the popular Bone Builder classes at the Sports Center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:15 pm beginning June 3rd. Bone Builder classes incorporate postural, strength, balance, flexibility, and weight-bearing exercises important for building stronger bones and reducing fracture risk.

Inactive adults decrease muscle mass by 3 to 8 percent per decade after the age of 30 and as much as 10% per decade after age 50 or as much as 1 pound of muscle loss every year (Flack 2011; Marcell 2003). Reduced muscle mass is largely responsible for reducing resting metabolism and is typically accompanied by increase fat accumulation. A 2012 research review in the American College of Sports Medicine by Dr. Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., CSCS, FACSM found that resistance exercise is effective for:

• reversing muscle loss
• recharging resting metabolism
• reducing body fat
• facilitating physical function
• resisting diabetes
• improving cardiovascular health
• increasing bone mineral density
• enhancing mental health
• reversing specific aging factors

Resistance exercise has been shown to reverse muscle loss in adults of all ages, with about 1 pound per month increase in lean weight during the first several months of strength training (Westcott 2008: 2009).

Based on research conducted by Dr. Westcott and Dr. Caroline Apovian of Boston University School of Medicine (http://www.pjstar.com/features/health/x1282423680/Wayne-L-Westcott-A-new-approach-to-losing-fat-keeping-muscle), the combination of resistance training with a protein/carbohydrate supplement post-workout significantly increases lean weight and increases bone mineral density. Based on their research, consuming supplemental protein, or protein/carbohydrate, immediately after resistance exercise sessions may provide dual benefits of enhanced muscle hypertrophy and increase resting energy expenditure. 

Bone Builder classes provide an effective strategy for:

• Rebuilding muscle
• Recharging metabolism
• Reducing fat in previously inactive adults and older adults

The Monterey Sports Center Sports Cafe and Pro Shop has available nutritious foods prepared daily by Brun's Deli in Carmel and features protein/carbohydrate supplements including both whey (milk) based and soy based products. Westcott recommends a balanced protein/carbohydrate supplement of 24-30 grams of protein and 36-45 grams of carbohydrate for individuals averaging 155 pounds (Westcott 2008, 2011) immediately after your resistance training session. 

So, sign up your folks or yourself to come work with Terri on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, grab a refreshing drink or snack after class and see how strong you will get following an evidenced-based program that really works. If that time does not work for you, check out one of our more than 100 classes offered every week and choose the two or three times a week schedule (http://www.monterey.org/Portals/1/sportscenter/pdfs/GroupExerciseJune1.pdf) that will help you get stronger, leaner and healthier.

We'll see you at the gym!

Here's an amazing story about one of our guests. Thomas Llamas in one of our long-time members and always has a smile for everyone around the gym. Last Halloween, Thomas dressed up as the Incredible Hulk in all his green-skinned glory and was quite an impressive sight.

Recently, Thomas headed up to the Bay Area along with buddy Leonard Levenson to compete in the California Senior games. Thomas, an elite discus thrower in college and high school, showed that he still has game, placing third in the 50-54 age class in his favorite event.

You can tell by looking at his picture that Thomas keeps himself in great shape, but you might not know that he does this while maintaining a happy marriage with six children and two grandchildren. At 53, Thomas is a great role model for all of us baby boomers.

The staff at the Monterey Sports Center are happy to call Thomas friends. Whether he's hitting the weight room, relaxing in the sauna, paddling a ping-pong ball with another member or trying his hand at juggling with Leonard, Thomas has a quick smile and positive word for everyone that meets him.

Congratulations on your return to the discus ring Thomas!

Congratulations to Bumpin Uglies! The Tuesday Night Coed Volleyball Champions!