Berkeley Recreation Introduces New Exercise Classes

BERKELEY, N.J. — Berkeley Recreation has introduced several new exercise classes. They begin the week of April 15 at the Recreation Center on 630 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville.

Mayor Carmen F. Amato introduced the four classes as part of an effort to engage residents in classes suited for their needs and lifestyle.

"As Mayor, I am committed to a healthy lifestyle not only for myself, but for us as a community, as well!” Amato said in a statement of the Mayor's Wellness Campaign. “Whether you haven’t been to a gym in years or you are extremely active, these classes will motivate you to get up and move around, at your own pace.”

Here are the classes with course descriptions:

Zumba, Mondays at 6 p.m.

Zumba is designed to be easy for people to follow. It's a program for everyone - people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. Zumba combines aerobic exercise with Latin dance moves.

Interval Training, Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Interval training, also known as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is a form of exercise that combines periods of intense work with periods of lower level activity or rest to improve your endurance, speed, and fat burn. Interval training combines cardio and resistance. This class will work with bands, which are provided, or bring your own.

Beginner Yoga, Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

The beginner class introduces alignment and breath work in a flow of postures linked together by the breath. Students will be introduced to yoga postures through step-by-step verbal description and demonstration. Benefits of yoga include: stress relief, better breathing, flexibility, increased strength, weight management, improved circulation, cardiovascular conditioning and inner peace.

POUND®, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Designed for all fitness levels, POUND® provides the perfect atmosphere for letting loose, getting energized, toning up and rockin’ out! The workout is easily modifiable and the alternative vibe and welcoming philosophy appeals to men and women of all ages and abilities.

Instead of listening to music, you become the music in this exhilarating full-body workout that combines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and pilates-inspired movements. Using Ripstix®, lightly weighted drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising, POUND® transforms drumming into an incredibly effective way of working out. Your instructor, Lisa Pepper, will provide the Ripstix®. So let’s Pound with Pepper!

Each class is $25 and lasts six weeks. They each have a minimum of six participants and a maximum of 30. You also don't have to be a resident to join the classes.

All fees must be paid in advance either online at www.BTREC.org or in person at the Recreation Center, open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Berkeley Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.