5th week of free programs at BFR

The fifth week of free wellness programs is underway at BFR Sports and Fitness. Free fitness classes and walking days are offered during the week plus demonstrations about exercise and healthy eating.

Free use of the BFR indoor track is available on Fri. Feb. 12, Sun. Feb. 14, Wed. Feb. 17, and Sat. Feb. 20. Wed. Feb. 17 includes a Senior Walking Challenge; each person who walks a minimum of 30 minutes will receive a BFR water bottle.

The track is open during all regular building hours (Monday through Friday, 5:30AM-9PM, Saturday 8AM-9PM, and Sunday 1-5PM). Track Passes are still available for purchase for unlimited use of the indoor track.

Several fitness classes will be offered without fee this week. Classes will include Strength and Flexibility Class on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 10AM, Aerobic Mix Class on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 9AM, Cardio Sculpt on Tues. Feb. 16 at 7PM, Total Body Conditioning at 7:30AM on Wed. Feb. 17 and Yoga Fit on Friday, Feb. 19 at 8:30AM.

Strength and Flexibility includes an hour of chair-based yoga and stretches plus a segment of dance/cardio and a segment with hand weights. Jackie Frey is the instructor of this weekly class. The free session of Saturday Aerobic Mix will be led by Kelly Prichard.

The Saturday class includes a variety of cardio and strength exercises and is led by either Prichard, Amy Blackburn, or by Diane Stratton. Total Body Conditioning (TBC) is offered every day and includes high intensity exercises in a concentrated session. Cardio Sculpt is taught weekly by Jennica Biery and includes a lively mix of aerobics and strength training. YogaFit is offers twice weekly through BFR. This free session will be held on Friday and is led by Susan Sheehan; a Wednesday night session is offered at the library.

This week's nutritional program will be held on Tues. Feb. 16 at 7PM with the topic, Calorie Counting. Under the direction of Bluffton University Wellness Major, Nicole Frey, participants will learn how to count calories for appropriate daily totals.

On Thurs. Feb. 18, during the Family Open Play session (11AM-noon), Frey will have handouts about healthful snacks for children. In addition, she will talk with parents about nutritional needs of children and how that differs from adults.

Family Open Play is on the schedule for a free session on Thurs. Feb. 18 from 11AM-noon.

Open Play is offered Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with the usual fee of just $1 per child. Adults are welcome to drop in at BFR for volleyball play on Thurs. Feb. 18 from 8-10PM, as well as Men's Basketball Mon. Feb. 15 at 9PM. Area youth are invited to a free session of Dodgeball on Fri. Feb. 19 at 3:30PM. Youth in grades K through grade 8 gather for informal team dodgeball versions.

For information about Keeping Active or any other BFR program, visit the center located at 215 Snider Road in Bluffton, contact BFR at 419-358-4150 or visit the web site www.bfronline.com.

After School Soccer Program Readies Players for Spring Season

BFR will offer an additional session of U10 Soccer Intramurals on Mondays beginning Feb. 15. The program meets 1 1/2 hours each week (4-5:30PM) and includes foot skills work plus scrimmage play. For this program, participants must have been 7 years of age by Aug. 1, 2009.

Amy Dahl is the lead instructor for the program. Registration is open by telephone (419-358-4150) and van service is an option from Bluffton Schools. Players looking to warm up for the outdoor season or those with little or no soccer experience are welcome to register.

Outdoor Soccer Registration Ends Sat. Feb. 13

New and returning players for the BSSL league play need to register at BFR by this Saturday. U6 intramural registration will continue through March. For more information, stop in to BFR to pick up a player packet.