By Liz Johnson
With all the madness the holiday season brings (plus calorie-laden plates and parties) finding time to exercise may be the last thing on anyone’s mind. Who wants to leave the warm comforts of home to go out for a walk or run? And doesn’t the steps earned during shopping count as calories burned? Inspiration may be one’s only hope. Here are six fun ways to fit fitness into this busy season. Consider asking a few friends or family to join you and you’ve got yourself a new holiday tradition.
Yoga
Spice of Life Yoga
160 Main Street, Ste 5
Flemington, NJ 08822
908-787-8300
Sometimes slowing down is the best exercise, especially around the holidays in which case, yoga is a great option. Spice of Life yoga in Flemington offers a variety of classes including hot yoga (which is like exercising in a sauna). If, after a few classes, you start to believe you’ve found a calling, sign up for the studio’s Teacher Training Certification. It could make for a great New Year’s resolution.
Spice of Life Yoga is a 2018 Happening List Winner.
Ice Skating
Flemington Ice Arena
426 Case Boulevard
Flemington, NJ 08822
908-237-1423
What’s a more wintery, fun-loving sport than ice skating? Trouble is, you can no longer count on freezing weather to offer up icy ponds and bankside camp fires. Enter Flemington Ice Arena, an indoor rink that offers public skating throughout the week and on Saturday afternoons. Haven’t learned to skate? The rink offers lessons, including recreational, figure skating and hockey.
Golf
Paradise Golf Center
56 Route 12
Flemington, NJ
908-788-3786
Just because the greens are frozen, doesn’t mean golf season is over. Paradise Golf Center offers players the chance to work on their slice or try out those new clubs year around. There’s also an indoor game simulator that gives you the chance to try out one of six of the country’s best golf courses, including Oakmont Country Club.
Baseball/Softball
Flemington Baseball & Softball Academy
47 Maple Ave.
Flemington NJ 08822
(908) 751-5425
While spring training may be months away, baseball is a game always in play in Flemington. With five softball pitching tunnels, two pitching mounds and plenty of self-operated pitching machines for baseball or softball, there’s plenty of opportunity to up your game or just take a few swings for as little as a half hour’s worth of effort.
Pickleball
Courtside Racquet Club
1115 Route 31 South
Lebanon, NJ
908-713-1144
An abbreviated form of tennis, Pickleball is all the rage these days, particularly with seniors. It’s a way to get fit while making friends. Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon offers drop-in play on Monday nights for anyone looking to try it out. For those more serious about the game, there’s Drill and Play held on Thursday and Saturday afternoons, with additional play times available throughout the week. Check out the club’s Web site for dates, times and details.
Courtside Raquet Club is a 2018 Happening List Winner.
Swimming
HealthQuest of Hunterdon
310 Route 31 North
Flemington, NJ
908-782-4009 ext 250
Hunterdon County YMCA
144 West Woodschurch Road
Flemington NJ
908-782-1030
Don’t let the name Masters Swim fool you into thinking only Olympic hopefuls should join the ranks. The national association is open to any adult wanting to improve their stroke or just get a good workout. Practices are open to any level of swimmer. Both Healthquest and the Hunterdon County YMCA host Masters Swim programs for nominal fees. Check out their Web sites for a complete schedule. Or visit New Jersey Masters Swim at www.njmasters.org to learn more.
HealthQuest is a 2018 Happening List Winner.