Need a date night? This month’s Friday Night Out will be Holiday themed! Drop your kids off for some games, activities, dinner, the pool, and a movie throughout the night! We hope to see you on Friday, December 20th, from 5:30 to 9:30 at our Cordata location!
This holiday season give BAC Personal Training Gift Certificates! Single Session or Session Packages available at the front desk.
A Kettlebell or in Russian “Girya” (ball or bell with a handle) was used over 350 years ago in Russia, as a certified handled counterweight for dry goods on market scales. Kettlebell lifting is the national sport of Russia with national championships held each year.
In the Russian Military, recruits are required as part of their training to use kettlebells. Kettlebells come in a range of styles/shapes and weights. They are primarily used for swinging, throwing, juggling, pressing, and holding type exercises.
What’s the difference between Kettlebells?
There are basically two different styles of Kettlebells. In the picture below, you see that the black Kettlebell has a thicker handle and a smaller body whereas the yellow Kettlebell on the right has a smaller handle and a much bigger body.
The yellow Kettlebell is what they call a “Competition” Kettlebell named for its use in Kettlebell Competitions. The thickness of the handle and diameter of the bell are exactly the same in each weight. It allows for a smooth technique adaptation from one weight to the next.
The “Competition” Kettlebell is much easier to swing than its counterpart which makes it a favorite with trainers and lifters alike. At BAC we feature “Competition” Kettlebells as a number of our staff were trained by World Champion and Master of Sports Coach Valery Federenko.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can add Kettlebell training to your workout please speak to one of our BAC trainers.
Holidays are a special time for friends and family getting together. However, they are also an excellent time for accidents in the home to happen. Taking family members to the ER has become something of a tradition in my house.
Make your home safe for all ages ~
The Kitchen
• Use a timer when cooking; fires can start from burning foods
• Don’t leave cooking food unattended
• Keep oven mitts, towels, and aprons away from heat sources
• Consider making a 3 ft. kid and pet-free zone to prevent accidental burns
• If you’ve got young children visiting, consider placemats in place of tablecloths that might get yanked, breaking china or worse, tipping over lit candles
• Provide a highchair for young visitors, and make sure that it is properly secured
The Tree
Fresh trees
• Check for brown needles; a dry tree can be a fire hazard
• Check for spiders and other pests before bringing the tree indoors
• Secure the tree to prevent it from tipping over
Artificial trees
• Make sure it is fire-resistant and lead-free
• Keep the tree away from the fireplace and candles
• If an artificial tree comes with lights installed, look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal of approval.
Decorations
• Keep glass ball and other breakable ornaments on higher branches, away from a child’s reach
• Before using, check lights for frayed cord and damaged sockets
• Indoor lights stay indoors
• Use a step ladder, not a chair, to get to the high spots
• One and Done extension cords – don’t plug two extension cords together
• Keep the tree skirt close to the tree to avoid tripping opportunities or skip it altogether
• Make sure the furniture is well spaced out to reduce tripping accidents
Wrapping Paper and Packages
• Pick up clutter; wrapping paper can hide tripping hazards
• Packaging popcorn and plastic can be choking hazards
• Don’t put wrapping paper in the fireplace; sudden fire flashes can be dangerous
• Small toys and lithium batteries can be choking hazards, make sure they are out of small children’s reach
Other Rooms
• Small rugs can cause tripping; best to avoid altogether, but if you must, use grip tape
• Add slip-resistant treads or decals to the tub and shower floors for overnight guests
• Provide plenty of lighting. Night lights are helpful
• Check to make sure you have anti-scald fixtures on faucets, 120° is the hottest the water should be
• Add handrails in halls and grab bars in the bathroom to help older visitors
Be Prepared
• Check that smoke alarms are working, and fire extinguishers are fresh
• A complete first aid kit should be easily accessible
• Keep a few flashlights with new batteries available
• Keep front walks and entries clear of tripping hazards or ice
• Make sure that your house numbers can be seen easily from the street in case the Fire Department needs to find you (as if the billowing smoke isn’t enough)
Making your home safe for visitors isn’t difficult. It just takes a little planning ahead and paying attention to the possible trouble spots.
Susie Landsem
Aging in Place by Design
Susie is a consultant for Aging in Place. Contact her if you have questions about adding safety and comfort solutions to your home.
Matt Massot has been at BAC for about six months now. He really enjoys working at the front desk Downtown and interacting with all of the friendly members that come into the club. During his time at BAC, Matt has developed a love and passion for fitness.
Matt was born in Texas but grew up near Seattle and moved to Bellingham in 2015 to attend Whatcom Community College. During his time at Whatcom, Matt’s love for movies became a passion and now he is pursuing a career in the film industry.
In his spare time, he likes to hang out with his dog Harry, work out, cook, and make and watch movies.
Congratulations, Matt! We are very lucky to have you on our team and serving our members with your kindness and smile!
Christmas and New Years’ days are on Wednesday this year, so please consult the schedule below as well as the signs in the clubs and postings on the website should you wonder about the hours of the clubs.
December 8th: Holiday party. Both clubs close at 5pm.
Christmas Eve: Both clubs close at 2pm.
Christmas: Both clubs closed.
Day after Christmas: Cordata 7-7, Downtown 7-2. No classes.
New Year’s Eve: Both clubs close at 5 pm.
New Year’s Day: Cordata 7-7, Downtown 7-2. No classes.
Day after New Years: Regular schedule.
Kaitlin Schanken has been a member of BAC since June of 2018. Kaitlin enjoys taking group classes, small personal training groups, and is an avid runner.
Kaitlin was born in Alaska, raised in Montana, and moved to Bellingham in 2006 from NYC where she completed a program of study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She has a BS from Western in Environmental Science and minors in GIS and History. Kaitlin has completed a term of service with Americorps and worked for Fish and Wildlife in Skagit County doing salmon/trout surveys and data entry. She took time off when Rosemary was born and loved being a stay-at-home parent so much that she decided to do it full time. She is also the coordinator for the Cordata Community Garden and tries to stay active within the greater Bellingham community.
Kaitlin has two amazing kids (Arabella (10), Rosemary (2)), an awesome partner in crime, two kitties, and a whack-a-do puppy named Saoirse. For fun, Kaitlin likes to run races, coach, read, play with her kiddos and her pooch, hike, garden, cook, and bake.
Thank you for your dedication to BAC, we love having you and the girls around the club!
Starting December 8th, Kids Club will also be open on Sundays from 9 to 1!
Starting January 1st of the New Year, Kids Club hours will be changing to Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7:30 pm & Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm.
This will be a shortened series due to the busy holiday month.
Week of December 2 – Week of December 9
Two Weeks, 4 Lessons
Open to Members and Non Members!
Sign up at the Cordata Facility Front Desk
$24 Members, $27 Child of Member, $30 Non Member
BEGINNERS:
Mon/Wed — 4:30-5:15 pm
INTERMEDIATES:
Tues/Thurs — 5:15-6:00 pm
ADVANCED:
Tues/Thurs — 4:30-5:15 pm
All classes taught by BAC Club Pro, Wanda Collins. Wanda has been teaching juniors for over 20 years and was the Director of Junior Development for the Washington Racquetball Association.
Our annual Toys for Tots toy drive begins Monday, December 2nd. You will notice the bins in the lobbies of both clubs. Our members have always been generous in the past and this year will be no exception. As a reward for your generosity, we are giving you the opportunity to take advantage of 2019 club dues rates if you pre-pay for the year. We are looking forward to seeing all the great toys you bring in.
