”It’s like riding a bike” is a phrase we use to mean easy to do, once you’ve learned, you never forget. Cycling is something you can do almost anywhere, at any time of the year, and without spending a fortune. It doesn’t require a high level of skill, yet it uses all the muscles in your body, allows you to gradually increase your intensity, and it’s a great stress reliever. Steady cycling burns about 300 calories per hour. 30 minutes of cycling every day burns 11 pounds of fat per year.
Check out these local bike resources:
Dire Wolf Racing is a Lynchburg-based cycling Team that competes in mountain, road, and cycle-cross events in Carolina, Tennessee, and all over Virginia for Mountain, Road, and Cyclo-cross events.
Greater Lynchburg Off-Road Cyclists - GLOC – is Lynchburg’s Mountain Bike Club offering group rides, skill clinics, social events, trail building and anything related to the sport of off road cycling. The club is open to all skill levels – a great way to meet new cyclists and explore some of the great off road cycling in our area!
For upcoming cycling events- check out Bikes Unlimited and Blackwater Bike Shop
Lynchburg city parks are a wonderful way for individuals and families to get outside and be active. Check out what they have to offer!
Need ideas for the summer? The Lynchburg Parks & Recreation Summer Activity Guide 2013 is here to inspire everyone every age and every interest! Read More
Summer is coming soon! Make plans to keep your kids busy and healthy during their time out of school.
Jubilee Family Center Summer Adventure Camp; 6/3-8/23 for ages 7-12 will include a Biggest Losers Fitness Camp as well as a Can you Dance camp and a Jr Top Chef Camp. $50 per week. Bfast Lunch and snack provided! Check it out!
Amazement Square offers several weeks of Wonder Day Camps on June 24-28, July 15-19, and August 5-9 for kids 4-8. They also have several workshops including an Amazing Race Workshop with geocaching.
Randolph College has multiple sport camps available.
Lynchburg College has high school lacrosse camps and basketball camps.
Liberty University has many camps including basketball, football, ski/snowboard, swimming, lacrosse and more. Check out the full listing here.
Let’s Move is a national campaign led by Michelle Obama to inspire families to live healthy.
Go here for exercise and meal ideas. 
We are often motivated to stick to our goals by others!
Consider joining a neighborhood walking fitness program – like “The Millionaires Club” sponsored by The Peace Practice which will hold its first meeting March 17th at noon. 3200 Memorial Avenue.
The Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club has hikes scheduled 3-5 days each week. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful hills and breathtaking Blue Ridge mountains.
Here are a few ways that new-fangled technology can help you get fit!
The fit bit is a tiny computer and pedometer that is small enough to wear, and smart enough to calculate miles walked, stairs climbed, and even your sleep patterns!
Here’s the list from Squidoo of best fitness gadgets.
HealthIT.gov is having a contest to promote technology and health- check out this entry and others for more ideas!
Here are a few healthy apps for KIDS for nutrition: Awesome eats, Munch5aday, smash your food, work it off, eat-o-matic, time to eat, Order Up
and a few for activity: Yoga by teens, Monumental, I am Love, Super Stretch Yoga, Iron Kids
Here are a few apps for adults: MapMyRun, Calorie Tracker, Lose It!, Weight Watchers mobile
Most good books make you want to curl up and read. Try this book with your family – and we hope it will make you want to get up and GO!
Lynchburg Legs is a story about a girl with a mysterious clue. She takes a walk around downtown Lynchburg trying to solve the mystery. The walk is 1.6 miles total and makes a loop that starts and ends at Amazement Square.
Free copies of the book are available at Amazement Square and the Downtown Market.
Go move your legs!
We have two ways to keep in shape for winter sports all year round. Skiing at the unique Snowflex Centre and ice skating at the La Haye Ice Rink. Rentals are available for both. Check the ice skating schedule here for open rink hours and prices.
At Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, you can go skiing/snowboarding/tubing year-round thanks to the synthetic terrain technology that was the first such facility in the US.
If you are a skater, check out the Lynchburg Figure Skating Club!
It’s often tough to get motivated to exercise…so grown-ups, channel your inner child who is never too tired to play!
Rise up climbing provides a unique way to get a full body workout in their indoor climbing facility downtown. There is instruction for beginners to advanced climbers; kids are welcome.
Did you know that Lynchburg has a roller derby team called the Black Water Rollers? If you are interested in joining, email blackwaterrollers@yahoo.com for more info.
Have you heard of the Hot Yoga studio downtown? Otherwise known as Bikram Yoga, this is a system of traditional hatha yoga postures. Bikram Yoga classes are 90 minutes long and practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity.
Another place to find your namaste downtown? James River Yoga Studio has a variety of classes to help your body and mind!
What is Pilates? Read More
“Tame the tube and turn on the FUN! Go to the park! Play a board game! Ride a bike! Take a walk! Experience nature!” Amy Splittgerber Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina
We all love our smart phones and portable music and gaming devices. However, recent research shows us that we need to limit so-called screen time (TV, computer, video games, texting) to less than 2 hours a day. The dangers of excess screen time for kids include not only increased risk for obesity, but also increased psychological stress, regardless of levels of physical activity. Learn more.
The average child spends 90% of the day indoors. Children watch about 3 hours a day watching TV; adults over 65 average 7 hours a day. Click here for a list of alternative activities to try to break your habit. Want to spend your free time in the kitchen creating a healthy meal to celebrate? Click here for family friendly recipes. Check out this movie called Play Again about nature deficit disorder, the consequence of too much time indoors. Click the picture to watch the preview.
Keeping screen time separate from eating time as well as from sleeping is critical for good health habits. Tips to reduce screen time – include setting limits and having kids be active while they watch! Watching TV while you eat will encourage you not only to eat more during the screen time, but even more later in the day – because you have a diminished memory of what you ate while distracted. Read More
Research shows that we need to give electronic devices their own bedtime! “Children and teens who spend time watching television, playing video games or using the computer right before bedtime are likely to take longer to fall asleep.” Screen time before bed may result in an hour less of sleep per week. Read More If kids are using an electronic device – consider programs that encourage more activity like the Wii. 
Screen Free Week is an annual event where families pledge to turn off the TV and turn on life! Mark your calendars for April 29-May 5, 2013!
**Don’t forget to take every opportunity to discuss Internet safety with your children. Need help? Check out this kid friendly site!
Lynchburg’s Dept of Parks and Rec has lots of options for children and adults that focus on good sportsmanship, team play and fun activities
Adult: softball, volleyball, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, kickball and Coaching certification!
Youth: Girls Softball, Baksetball, Tennis
Are your kids full of acrobatic energy?
All N 2 Air is on Mill Ridge Road near 501.
Lynchburg Academy is on Memorial Avenue.
Pure Gymnastics is on Old Forest Road.
We have a thriving dance community.
Look into dancing with these different groups!
Central Virginia Ballet
Dance Theatre of Lynchburg
Lynchburg Belly Dance
Seven Hills Dance
The Red Shoes – offers Ballroom, tap, hip hop and more to adults and kids!
Virginia Dance Studio
Central Virginia United is a Recreation & Travel soccer organization that offers Recreation Soccer, Academy Development Programs (U9 & U10), Competitive Travel Soccer as well as ad-hoc camps and training programs.
Lynchburg Soccer Mania has an allstar indoor soccer facility at the Thomas Indoor Soccer Center at Liberty University- it offers soccer leagues for adults as well as kids 5-18. The facility offers two 175’ x 75’ size soccer arenas with synthetic grass-like playing surface.
The YMCA also has soccer teams in the spring. Click on the YMCA location closest to you, then scroll to Youth Sports.
An adult can burn 350 calories by one hour of moderate roller skating, or 590 calories skating vigorously! It’s easy on your joints, and the whole family can have fun!
Go to www.KidsSkateFree.com to learn more about a national program to encourage fitness through skating! Go HERE to register for free passes for kids under 11 at FunQuest.
PLUS…This summer FunQuest is sponsoring Family Fun & Fitness – FREE family skating every Thursday from June 7- Aug 30th. Skate rental does cost $3. Family_Fun_&_Fitness_Summer_2012
People join running groups to meet other people, have a regular running schedule, and to help improve their accountability – the group is expecting you!
The Y Running Group has a wide variety of people from beginners to those who have run multiple marathons. It costs $30 for YMCA members, $40 for non-members. They do 8 weeks of training, review injury prevention tips and warm ups, and have race day coaching. Check out their Facebook page!
The Lynchburg Road Runners Club has been promoting fitness through running for over 30 years. Races, fun runs (and walks), discounts at local shops and on race entry fees, training groups, and other events help LRRC achieve this goal. Membership is open to all ages and abilities. The club is a proud member of the Road Runners Club of America and is America’s Outstanding Runner Friendly Community!
The Lynchburg Legends are the new pro basketball team in Lynchburg. They finished their first season with a 15-6 record and won the Colonial Division Championship. In addition to providing the community with fun, fast-paced, family oriented games, they hold youth skills training camps throughout the year, work with children at Jubilee Center and area schools. Check out their game schedule – and get inspired!
Tryouts are in the summer – stay tuned!
1 a pair of socks with red hearts
2 a framed picture of you & the person you love
3 a bottle of perfume
4 Spell out “I love you” with pennies on the floor
5 a handmade doily valentine with an original love poem
6 a foot massage
7 a pair of boxer shorts with hearts
8 a new pair of running shoes
9 an old picture from your honeymoon
10 a Zumba! class
11 a DVD of Love Actually
12 a dozen red roses
13 a pair of red or pink shoelaces
14 Write “I love you” in soap on the side window of the car
15 a set of 10 cards and envelopes with her/his initial
16 a “gift certificate” to get out of doing the dishes
17 cherry chapstick
18 a CD of Ella Fitzgerald singing love songs
19 tickets to see a movie
20 Just Dance Wii game
21 a red scarf
22 a manicure
23 a book of love poems
24 a CD of Michael Buble singing love songs
25 a DVD of the Notebook
26 an ice skating date or a gym date!
27 a pair of gloves
28 a teddy bear
