Les Mills Body Attack Class coming to Pearce!

Les Mills Body Pump Class Coming to Pearce!

Spring Youth Soccer League Registration Begins

Registration opens February 1^st for Pearce Community Center’s Spring Youth Soccer league. Soccer is open to children age 4 to 10 in grades pre-K through 5^th. All games and practices will be held outdoors at South School in Chillicothe, weather permitting.

The League is designed to provide fun recreational soccer practice and play during which participants will learn basic skills and rules of the game in a structured environment. Every child will play, regardless of their soccer experience and skill.

New this year, there will be a smaller field and teams (about 5 to 6 children per team), and no goalies, setting a faster pace for the games, higher scores, and giving each child the opportunity to touch the ball more often. Players will be grouped by age: 4-6 will play 3 on 3, 7-8 will play 4 on 4, and 9-10 will play 4 on 4. All teams will be coed. IVC Boys Varsity Head Soccer Coach Nolan Wilson will lead instruction, skill development, coaching, and manage referees.

Pearce Foundation members pay only $33.75. Members pay $45, and the fee for non-members is $60.

Registration ends Sunday, March 13. The first week of practice will be held one to two weeks before the first game on Saturday, April 2. The last game will be played on Saturday, May 7.  

Babysitting Class Offered at Pearce

Pearce Community Center is offering the Safe Sitter® babysitting class on Saturday, February 20 and 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 11 to 17.

The class will develop knowledge of first aid, rescue skills, and behavior management techniques as well as provide the experience to handle medical, behavioral, or household emergencies. Participants will also learn how to feed and diaper small children and create their own personalized toolkit of activities, crafts, and games to take with them to babysitting jobs.

The cost of the class is $30 for Foundation members; $40 for members; and $50 for non-members. Register for the Safe Sitter® program at Pearce. 

Science For Kids Class Offered at Pearce

Pearce Community Center will offer Fun Science for Kids, a six-week series of classes beginning Tuesday, February 23 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The class will include hands-on projects covering a variety of science topics. It is designed to stimulate curiosity and wonder in children in grades 3^rd through 6^th.  Experiments in this class allow students to engage in fun learning experiences.

The cost of the series is $30 for Pearce Foundation members; $40 for Pearce Members; and $50 for non-members. Advance registration is required.

Monthly Senior Potluck

Pearce Community Center will host the monthly senior potluck at noon on Tuesday, January 26. All seniors are invited to bring a side dish and their own table service and join in the fun. Fried chicken and drinks are provided. This month, Chillicothe Mayor Doug Crew will discuss current topics of interest.

Pearce Members Give Generously to CNA

Every year, Pearce is one of the collection locations of gifts for children of needy families. The gifts are then distributed by the Chillicothe Optimists and Community Needs Agency (CNA).

The Pearce Christmas tree was decorated with "ornaments" that included the age and gender of a child. Members selected an ornament and shopped, wrapped, and returned a gift. More than 150 gifts were donated by Pearce members this year. 

The gifts are distributed with food baskets to low income families during the Christmas holiday. The families were identified by signing up at the CNA office on Pine in Chillicothe. During this process, information on each child in the family is captured in order to provide for their specific age and gender. 

During 2015, CNA had a record number of  families request a food basket, but with the generosity of the community, all children received multiple gifts. 

It's not to late to donate to this very important effort. Cash donations can be made to Community Needs Agency at P.O. Box 103 Chillicothe, IL 61523. Donations  can be dropped off at the Chillicothe Branch of South Side Bank. CNA is available 12 months a year to provide assistance to families in need.

Kids Zumba® Class Begins

Kids Zumba® for children ages six to 12 will be offered at Pearce Community Center. The class features kid-friendly routines based on original Zumba® choreography. We break down the steps and add games, activities and cultural exploration elements into the class structure. Kids Zumba® helps develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of children's lives by making fitness fun. Classes incorporate key childhood development elements like leadership, respect, team work, confidence, self-esteem, memory, creativity, coordination, cultural awareness.

The 8-week series of classes will be offered each Monday January 25 through March 14 from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Class size is limited to 15 children. Pearce Foundation members pay only $15; Pearce members $20; and non-members $25.

And the Member with the Most Check Ins in 2016 is...

Again this year as in many years past, charter member Michelle Espinosa checked into Pearce 535 times. If you need a pep talk about commitment, see Michelle!

Bruce Grzegorzewski came in second with 447 check ins followed by Rhonda Dunn with 366, Ken Johnson with 358, Rosa Roger with 327, and Ken Scheeler with a mere 317. 

Tap Dance Classes for Adults

Tap class for adults 16 and over will be offered at Pearce Community Center. The ABCs of Tap class begins on Friday, January 15 and meets from noon to 1:00 p.m. Basic tap class begins on Friday, January 15 and intermediate class begins Wednesday, January 13. The basic and intermediate classes meet from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.  Tap shoes are required to participate. Pearce Foundation members pay only $30; members pay $40 and non-members pay $50. 

Tips to Tackle the Dreaded New Year's Resolution

By Raquel "Rocky" Herron, BS, NASM-CPT

"New Year, New You," "Make This Your Best Year Ever," "Get Fit in 2016." Do these headlines sound familiar? Pick up any newspaper or magazine this month and these statements will undoubtedly be staring back at you. January is the start of a brand new year, which means the holidays are over and it's time for those resolutions to take priority, specifically health and fitness resolutions.

Whether people are willing to admit it or not, fitness resolutions are almost always at the top of the resolution list. Each year, we tell ourselves that this is the year we're finally going to look amazing in a bikini, run a 5K, or simply just get to the gym! While some succeed and reach their goals, most simply give up. Is there a magic formula that only some are privy to and others are not? No, in fact, there are some simple tips that can be useful for anyone looking to succeed with their fitness resolutions.

When it comes to setting goals and resolutions, a key point to remember is specificity, especially with fitness goals. As a trainer, when someone tells me that they want to be fit, I have several questions that come to mind. What do you mean by "fit?" Do you only want to lose body weight or do you want to be stronger and faster? Do you want to be able to run a five-minute mile or simply walk up the stairs without getting winded, or both! It's easy to see why having a specific goal is important. Different goals require different plans.  Someone who wants to be a faster runner is not going to spend all of their time swimming, but may require a different plan than a new mom who is seeking her pre-baby body. Having a specific goal will lead to a plan that is designed for that goal, which will help you succeed, which leads into my second point, having a plan.

Many things in life require plans, and fitness goals are no exception.  Having a fitness plan is like having a set of blueprints for your fitness goals. One of the first steps in finding the right plan should probably include a session with a certified personal trainer at Pearce. Great trainers are equipped with the knowledge to help pair specific plans with specific goals. One of the most commons statements I hear is simply, "I don't know what to do." It's definitely understandable, given the information overload available at our fingertips. A trainer will point you in the right direction and make getting in shape less daunting. Plus, starting off with a great plan will help you avoid wasting time, which can lead to feelings of frustration and failure. 

Now that you've set specific goals and have a plan in place, take the time to track your progress. At the start of your program write down important information such as body weight, measurements for specific body parts, the amount of weight you're using with your strength lifts, and the amount of time you're able to run/walk. Each week update these numbers and see if progress is being made. When you can see your results not only in the mirror, but in the weight room and on the treadmill, you'll be encouraged to continue your efforts. Seeing results, even if they're small, are needed to keep motivation up. 

We can't have a serious talk about New Year's resolutions with addressing the idea of realistic goal setting and realistic results. Expecting to lose a large amount of weight or gain super strength in a short amount of time is highly unrealistic, but expecting a reasonable amount of weight loss and increases in strength and cardiovascular conditioning with a proper plan and great nutrition is realistic and definitely achievable. I see many people start a fitness journey with great intentions, only to fail because their expectations were just not realistic. If you've been sedentary for years, it will take many months to get into great shape. If you've been a junk food eater all your life, it will take time to reverse those habits and implement healthier ones. The truth is that we all want results fast, but results take time and consistency is a must to reach your goals. If you only adhere to your plan half of the time, you can only expect half the results, but if you consistently put in the hard work that's needed, you'll see the results you're seeking.

Getting fit and sticking to your New Year's health and fitness resolutions does not have to be hard, but it will require dedication to a plan. By setting specific, realistic goals, consistently adhering to a great plan, and keeping track of your progress, you'll be in great shape in no time. Let the knowledgeable fitness staff at Pearce help you be the best you in 2016!

Winter Blast Youth Dance

Pearce Community Center is offering Winter Blast Youth Dance, Friday, January 22, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for students in grades fourth, fifth, and sixth.

Pearce’s own DJ will be playing the hottest tunes to help warm up the night. Dodgeball and concessions will also be available. Admission is $7 at the door. 

Silver Sneakers Membership

If the new year brought you a new health insurance plan, be sure to see if the plan provides a free SilverSneakers membership. Talk to membership coordinator Jill Rodier at the front desk.

January Member of the Month

January Member of the Month Troy Schmick most enjoys the community aspect Pearce offers. “There are many gym alternatives available,” says Troy, “and a few even offer the breadth of services Pearce has. But none stand out like Pearce in terms of welcoming and friendly staff and fellow members. I feel at home.”

Troy joined Pearce three years ago to regain the fitness that had slipped away over the years. But he’s also discovered that he is more active and alert overall and his stress level has been reduced.

“I have focused mainly on Spinning classes, but my family members have been involved in personal training, weight loss challenges, hip hop class, youth soccer, basketball, and swimming classes. I have also maintained my CPR certification through the class offered at Pearce and have been part of a few overnight campouts through Boy Scouts.”

Like most people, Troy enjoys spending time with his family. Because the entire family is actively involved at Pearce, they can be together here as well as at home. He also enjoys volunteering with Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts, and Friends of Friedrichshafen.

“During my first few months of membership, I was busy working out on the lat pull down machine when Liz (Bowers, Fitness Manager) casually walked by and said ‘you need some cardio.’ Boy was she right! It took time, but I’m now up to two to four cardio workouts each week either by 

Spinning class, rowing, elliptical, or swimming.”

Troy remembers that encounter very clearly and encourages everyone to get to know the fitness staff and instructors. “Each one has their own style and personality. Some styles may challenge you in ways you may not be comfortable with, but that is the point.  They get you to stretch yourself. When you connect with them, it makes all the hard work so much more enjoyable.”

School's Out Day Camp

They just went back to school, but it's time to remind you that IVC students do not have school on Monday, 1/18 for Martin Luther King Day. But, we've got your solution: School's Out Day Camp!

Junior Fitness Certificatrion

Pearce Community Center is offering Junior Fit Certification on Monday, January 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. After successfully completing the class and receiving certification, young members will be allowed access to the cardiovascular room and the Selectorized equipment area.

Participants will learn how to use the equipment in a safe, productive manner. Additionally, they will learn fitness etiquette and rules.

Pearce Foundation members pay only $9; members $12. Advance registration is required.