HUMBOLDT — The Movement is encouraging a variety of Allen Countians get out and be active. The county-wide eight-week healthy living initiative, sponsored by Thrive Allen County, is winding down for the year.
Damaris Kunkler, Thrive program director, said 250 participated in this year’s Movement. A few area businesses encouraged their staffs to participate by paying their memberships. Signing on were Community National Bank’s locations in Iola and Humboldt, Gates Manufacturing and Community Living Opportunities in Iola.
Hazel Ebberts, Iola, brought something new to the Movement this year. Ebberts instructs a PiYo class in Humboldt on Thursday nights.
“It is a combination of pilates and yoga but it is high intensity and low impact,” Ebberts said.
Ebberts, an occupational therapist at Allen County Regional Hospital, became a Movement member last year. She said it kick-started her into a more healthy lifestyle. She started eating healthier meals and using video workouts in the comfort of her home.
PiYo was created by Chalene Johnson, a physical fitness instructor famous for her beach body workout videos. When Ebberts learned that Johnson was going to release PiYo videos this year, she decided to take the next step in her health journey.
“I became certified in PiYo at a class in Oklahoma earlier this year,” she said. “When Damaris found out I was certified she said ‘Good, you can teach a class.’”
Five to seven women attend Ebberts’ class in the basement of the Humboldt Lutheran Church. They all come in carrying yoga mats and watch closely as Ebberts instructs them on moves. The classes include a warmup, buildup and cool down session.
Ebberts said she is happy with the turnout.
The participants move to the music and go at their own pace. Ebberts has the class go from standing yoga poses, to planks, to doing a few crunches. By the time the 45-minute class ends everyone has worked up a sweat.
Now that the Movement class is coming to a close Ebberts said she might teach a weekly class.
“If I have the time between my family and my job I would be willing to teach a class,” she said.
The last day for the Movement is June 27. Thrive will announce incentive tickets and how many minutes participants were active.
