Vicki Long
Pat Smith
Those of us who have participated in physical activity and exercise over the years have come to understand and realize just how much regular exercise and fitness boosts our bodies and minds. Exercise is a stress-buster and can be one of the most effective ways to improve your mood. This “feel-better” effect can be triggered by any type of exercise – what matters most is that you move, whether it be solo walking or attending a class with others. Physical activity is already linked to better brain health, which helps to relieve depressive thoughts and makes you better able to experience everyday pleasures. In other words, after being physically active, you feel more optimistic, more hopeful, and more connected to others, which means a happier you. Vital Moves offers many opportunities for you to participate in the joy in movement with classes like cardio drumming, strength and core training, TRX, Zumba, Pilates, and yoga, to name a few.
One of the co-leaders and trainers for Vital Moves, radiating joy in movement, is Vicki Long, who leads classes in cardio drumming, strength training, and Zumba. Vicki also helps organize and lead the frequent dance parties offered by Vital Moves. Vicki’s educational background and training in health and physical education/exercise is extensive; she earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in health, PE, and recreation from Indiana University. Vicki taught high school PE, swimming, gymnastics, and dance during her thirty-three years as an educator in Illinois, and she was instrumental in developing innovative programs there, like Physical Management and Fit for Life classes. Her other accomplishments include creating a school district staff wellness program, authoring Safety in Tumbling K-12 for the National Safety Council, and presenting for the Excellence in Education programs throughout the state of Illinois.
Vicki states, “It was always my goal when I was teaching, whether it was young people or adults, that they should develop a love for movement and physical activity, that it would become part of their daily lives. The desire to be healthy and fit would be as natural and habitual as brushing your teeth and combing your hair. To know the joy of exercising and feel the results and benefits-what a fantastic goal for any physical educator to instill in those they teach.”
To experience the joy of movement, stop in at the SaddleBrooke One Fitness Center; check out the many class options offered six days a week; or talk with Janis Bottai, the owner/director and trainer with Vital Moves; and join us for the fun!
Enjoy the process!