Spring into Summer at our Zumba Party, a 90-minute dance fitness party hosted by BAC & our Zumba instructors. Bring a friend for free!
Friday, May 17 @ 5:45 pm
Cordata Gym
Spring Zumba Party
Cognitive Health
Cognitive Health, the ability to think, learn, and remember, is an important component of brain health:
- Motor function – how well you make and control movements
- Emotional function – how well you interpret and respond to emotions
- Sensory function – how well you feel and respond to sensations of touch, including pressure, pain, and temperature
5 Things to Focus on for Maintaining Cognitive Health:
- Take Care of Your Health
- Eat Healthy Foods
- Be Physically Active
- Keep Your Mind Active
- Stay Connected
Physical Activity
Studies link ongoing Physical Activity with benefits to the brain. In one study, exercise stimulated the human brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones that are vital to cognitive health. Other studies have shown that exercise increased the size of the brain structure important to memory and learning.
Keep Your Mind Active
Keeping intellectually engaged has been found to show benefit to the brain. People who engage in meaningful activities, like volunteering or hobbies, say they feel happier and healthier. Learning new skills may improve your thinking ability as well. For example, one study found that older adults who learned quilting or digital photography had more memory improvement than those who only socialized or did less cognitively demanding activities.
Formal cognitive training also seems to have benefits. In the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial, healthy adults 65 and older participated in 10 sessions of memory training, reasoning training, or processing-speed training. The sessions improved participants’ mental skills in the area in which they were trained. Most of these improvements persisted 10 years after the training was completed!
May Employee of the Month
Congratulations, Megan, on being May’s employee of the month. Megan started working the front desk in August 2018. Since then, Megan has worked all hours of the day. You will most likely see her working early mornings and well into the evenings.
Megan grew up in Vancouver, Washington and then made her way to Castle Rock. She participated in competitive gymnastics for 10 years and also played volleyball while in high school. She has been in Bellingham since August, attending Western Washington University full-time. Megan is majoring in Marketing but also hopes to experience becoming a real estate agent as well.
When Megan isn’t at school or working at the club she likes to visit her family and her precious dog Teddy on the weekends and whenever she can. One of her favorite places to travel to is California to see her best friend!
Megan has proven time and time again how reliable she is. She is the definition of what a team player is— always willing to help out and lend a hand when needed. Thank yo, Megan for everything you do!
May Members of the Month
Our May Members of the Month are Nic and Natasha Ruff. They have been an exceptional part of the BAC community for about 4 years. Natasha tends to do her workouts with an emphasis on building cardio strength and Nic likes to focus his training on lifting and building core strength, however, he does like to change it up every now and then to work on cardio, too.
Nic is from Leavenworth, and Natasha is from Sedro-Wolley, but they met right here in Bellingham. In their free time, they really enjoy going to concerts. Despite having somewhat different tastes in music, Nic liking alternative rock and Natasha being more into country, they both still have a great time seeing any type of live music.
When we asked Nic to talk to us for this little write-up, he said that their mentality with exercise is that the world is better when we help other people, and in order to help other people we have to first start by helping ourselves to be the best we can, mentally and physically. That is what makes Nic and Natasha such a great part of the BAC, and why we have chosen them as May’s members of the month.
Active Aging…Commit to stay fit in May!
Bellingham Athletic Club offers a wide range of exercise and aquatics classes. During the month of May, we will be highlighting specific exercise and aquatic classes designed for adults who want to continue enjoying an active and spirited lifestyle. Join us and experience the difference!!!
May 5-11
Zumba Gold…Cordata with Celine
This class takes the popular Latin dance-inspired workout of Zumba and makes it accessible for seniors, beginners or others needing modifications in their exercise routine. Zumba Gold builds cardiovascular health by challenging the heart and working the muscles of the hips, legs, and arms with dance moves. Wednesdays @ 8:30 am in the Cordata Gym.
RetroFit…Cordata with Theresa/Lesley
A moderate-paced, low-impact class designed for people who are comfortable with basic choreography. Focus is on simple movements. This is a great starting class for all ages, beginners, and members coming back from rehab injuries. Mondays @ 8:30 in the Cordata Gym.
May 12-18
Strong & Stable…Downtown and Cordata with Lesley
Every class features exercises that increase balance, mobility, and strength in order for you to continue enjoying an active and fulfilling lifestyle. Mondays & Wednesdays @ 8:30 am Downtown. Fridays @ 8:30 in the Cordata Gym.
Strength & Stretch…Downtown with Lesley
This class is for any fitness level. The focus is on a combination of body weight exercises, bands, and other tools to challenge your strength and full body stretching to complement your training program. Tuesdays @ 8:30 am Downtown.
May 19-25
Aqua Aerobics / Aqua Zumba…Cordata with Jill/Toni/Carrie/Cindy/Myra/Lynn/Gayle
Get a great cardio low-impact workout in the water! Great for all abilities and fitness levels. Looking for a water aerobics class with a twist? Try out Aqua Zumba! It is a fast-paced, body-toning water workout that combines the rhythm of a traditional Zumba class with the increased resistance in the pool. Check Pool Schedule for days/times.
May 26-31
Pilates/Yoga…Cordata with Jen/Michal/Freddie/Elena/Lesley
This class is designed to work your powerhouse muscles – abs, lower back, thighs, and buttocks. The discipline emphasizes correct form to help develop strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, & good posture. Designed for all levels. Check Group Exercise Schedule for days/times
Janet Rhoades…this is not goodbye!
Twenty-two months ago I announced to Cathy and my co-workers I would be retiring, of course at the time it was a long ways off. Now…I will be officially retired. Yikes!
My 19-year journey with BAC has been more than just a job! I have had the privilege of working with an outstanding management staff who I count as my extended family and good friends through thick and thin. The adventures and experiences we have shared could easily fill a book, most of them involving lots of laughing, some crazy road trips and the commitment to continually bring improvement to our job and members.
I feel incredibly fortunate that although I am retiring I will still maintain contact with our fabulous members in a new role as a “member.” My relationship with our members has always been a bright spot in my life and I appreciate the chats and confidences I have shared with many of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for an amazing ride!
Pura Vida-
Janet
From BAC Staff…
BAC says a fond farewell to a long time employee Janet Rhoades. She is retiring in April to spend more time with husband Rod, kids and grandkids. Janet started here in 2000, as Front Desk Supervisor, then moved into a combo role as Front Desk Supervisor, member services and in charge of Accounts Receivable. She has been the go-to person for all things BAC. For many years the saying for the staff was: “If Janet doesn’t know about it, it isn’t happening.“
Janet has always been the one behind the scene— making sure the Front Desk had all the correct information, registration sheets were current and available, and the proper publicity was deployed. Janet will be sorely missed. Carly Miller who many of you will recognize is returning to BAC to take over Janet’s Member Services Director position. Please be sure to welcome Carly as she learns her new position.
Swim Lessons
We are getting into the busy season for Swim Lessons, so make sure you take a look at the schedule and secure your spot for May early! We are offering a bigger variety of classes at different times – we are still running the Angelfish II class in the mornings, so if you have a confident 2-year old, this is the class for you! You’ll also see more Starfish classes offered in the afternoon, for students who are ages 7+ and just starting out in lessons.
Wondering what to bring to lessons? We don’t have too many requirements: If not potty trained, we do require a swim diaper in the water, as well as any kind of swim suit or swimming clothes and a towel to dry off and stay warm! Goggles are not required, but they are encouraged (especially for older levels where kids are swimming all the way across the pool). We do have a few pairs for general use, however we cannot guarantee goggle availability with so many lessons. So if you’ve got a picky swimmer, it might be a good idea to pick up some of your own. Also, students with hair at or longer than shoulder length should have their hair pulled back with a hair tie or swim cap. If you have any more questions about lessons, please reach out to me, I am happy to give advice and recommendations.
Swim Team can be a great opportunity for those swimmers who would like to spend more time in the water developing their skills and learning to think about swimming as a sport, rather than a leisure activity. If your student is interested, feel free to pop in and watch a practice to get an idea of the kinds of skills we develop! Swim Team runs from 5:30-6:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
May 7 – 30th (4 weeks/8 Lessons)
Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Times: 10am–12pm, 3:30pm–5:30pm, & 6:00pm-8:00pm
We offer adult groups lessons from 7:30 pm-8:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as private lessons to meet your personal fitness goals.
Call (360) 676-1800 to sign up!
Press here for current Swim Lessons Schedule details and pricing.
Press here to go to the Aquatic Page.
Meet Jessie
Jessie has been employed at BAC since 2006. She is not a full-time employee any longer as she accepted a job at Mount Baker Imaging in August of 2016, but she is still running racquetball and basketball programs. She grew up in Indiana and graduated from Ball State University in 2006. Jessie enjoys water skiing, playing racquetball and anything else close to the water, and of course, spending time with Jasper.
Meet Carly
Carly originates from Vancouver, WA and at the early age of 18 she moved to Bellingham to attend Whatcom Community College. In August of 2013, she was hired as a part of the Kids Club staff. Over the course of 3 years, she worked in different departments and became an integral part of the BAC. After a 3 year hiatus from the Club, she is now back serving as our Member Services Director.
Outside of the club Carly has found her passion competing in Spartan races and will be training continuously throughout the next year. She likes to explore new trails and restaurants and is always up for a new adventure. A good book and spending time with friends rounds out her personal time. Carly has two kitties that very special to her and have been her companions for 5 years.
Holiday Hours
Easter Sunday, April 21st. Holiday Hours:
Cordata: 7am-7pm (No Step Class)
Downtown: 7am-2pm
Have a great Easter!