The Villages - June 2017 - 28

{ For The

Love

o F r e C r e AT I o N }

Classic rock Workout
is a Hit witH Villagers
It's all about the music. A song can set
the pace, shift the mood, stir our thickened
motivations.
"Music is so important to fitness because our
bodies respond to the beat," said Shirley Houde,
of the Village of Country Club Hills.
Houde teaches a classic rock workout at
Coconut Cove and La Hacienda recreation
centers. A New England native, Houde came to
The Villages with more than 40 years experience
in the fitness and choreography industry.
"There were plenty of classes to take here, but I wanted to
infuse my own music," Houde said. "I wanted to exercise to
music I like, and I knew I could develop my own classes. I had
choreographed routines for gymnasts for 20 years, so it was
simple for me to come up with various routines."
Houde's rock-oriented classes are upbeat and fast-paced,
imbued with the sounds of Maroon 5, the B-52s, Boston,
Aerosmith and others from that genre. She started teaching
the class four years ago and has gotten a great response from
Villagers.
"People like my choice of music," she said. "It's why they
come back for more."
Fitness should be hard work, but who said it can't be fun,
too? Houde's class is both.
"I wear a headset to cue the moves, and everyone who
comes sweats," she said.
It's a full hour of movement, beginning with a warmup and 40 minutes of dance, followed by 10 minutes of
weights, then core exercises and finally, stretching.
"I have an affinity for music," Houde said. "I love to do
karaoke and I've choreographed 60 songs for the class. I
mix and match them throughout."
As for newcomers, Houde said if they are able to line
dance on the square and have a basic dance intuition,
they shouldn't be afraid to try the class.
"Expect to work. Expect to exercise to the max,
moving quickly and using every body part. But have a
great time, too."
The Classic Rock Workout meets at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Coconut Cove Recreation Center
and at 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays (except the third Wednesday of each month) at La Hacienda
Recreation Center. For information, email shirley-houde@comcast.net.

JUNE 2017

stuartbur/iStock/thinkstock

Story By rica LewiS | PhotoS By roB wiLKerSoN

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - June 2017