All summer Meigs Point Nature Center and the Friends of Hammonasset hosted fitness classes on the beach. This year offered the most extensive series yet, beginning in June when Jennifer McManus offered her first Beach Pilates class. Almost 50 people showed up at the Meigs Point Pavilion for this early morning class, and many returned when Jennifer offered a second Beach Pilates class in August. It seems fitting that Jennifer who opened the Fitness series with a class on the first day of summer will be back to conclude the series just as fall begins. The finale will be Saturday, September 27 at 8:30 AM.
Carolyn Milazzo Murphy, of Beach Rose Yoga, usually offers classes at the Mercy Center in Madison. She added another class to her busy schedule when she volunteered to lead a session of Beach Yoga at the Park, making this the third year Carolyn has donated her time to Hammonasset. She brought some of her regular students with her to this beautiful location. Many new students brought the attendance of her class to around 90. The class was taught at a beginner’s level. During the class Carolyn took the time to wander among the yogis to help individuals correct and improve their poses.
Suzanne Hanley had to compete with the wind and the surf leftover from Hurricane Arthur, and she did so with grace and humor as she led her first Tai Chi by the Sea session of 2014 on July 5. The Beach was busy for the holiday weekend, yet Suzanne managed to carve out a spot on the beach directly a cross from the Nature Center. She showed the class a move guaranteed to help you lose inches and pounds if done correctly. If you were unfortunate enough to miss either of Suzanne’s classes this season, you’ll have the opportunity to learn this move next summer.
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Jessica Demers and the staff of Body Karma Studios in Clinton, held their yoga classes closer to the Meigs Point Pier. The Sunday classes quickly developed a loyal following of area residents. The location was away from the traffic of the food stand and the pavilion, though one week the instructor had to compete with a church group who had come to the Park to baptize new members. The instructors (Jessica, Karen Wexell, Christine Bauer, Chelsey Hayward, and Kris Reaske) had a different styles of teaching their classes, but each were able to adapt their sessions to fit the varying abilities and fitness levels of the attendees. The staff at Body Karma Studios have promised to come back to Hammonasset Beach State Park for another Fitness Series next summer.
In all, nearly 700 people all ages come to the Beach Fitness Series at Hammonasset Beach. And it’s not over yet. Please join Jennifer McManus on September 27 at 8:30 AM for Pilates. The class will be taught at a beginner’s level and will be appropriate for all ages. Bring a mat or towel, water, and a sweatshirt for this final class which brings the Fitness series into Fall.
