New Year, LiveWell Dunedin
Published on January 27, 2022
As 2023 has arrived, we inevitably as a yearly ritual try to change ourselves overnight. We are eliminating the word resolutions from our vocabulary and instead are going to make lifestyle modifications.
As with most years, the top new year lifestyle modifications, in no particular order, are well-intentioned promises that you will exercise more, lose weight, spend more time with family and friends, and improve your finances.
To improve your chances of sticking to your lifestyle modifications, the Dunedin Parks & Recreation Department’s “LiveWell Dunedin” mantra aspires to encourage people of all ages to live well physically, mentally and socially. To that end, the Department offers many outstanding programs to enhance your lifestyle and improve your overall well-being. The program features four central ingredients -- Eat Better, Move More, Get Connected, and Find Peace.
For a lot of us out there, the most difficult step is to eat better. The Dunedin Recreation Department offers multiple opportunities to help you eat better. You can schedule a wellness screening with myself or meet with our personal trainer Katherine Janus for a nutrition consultation at the Community Center to determine the best options for you. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center offers a kid culinary cooking class in the spring, while the Hale Senior Activity Center offers a Diabetes Prevention Program.
There is no shortage of opportunities to get moving. The Dunedin Community Center has refreshed their fitness equipment including new dumbbells, weighted barbells and a Freedom Rack. We also offer instructor-led group exercise classes and private or with-a-buddy personal training services. If you prefer exercising outdoors, visit the Kiwanis FitZone at Weaver Parkwhere you can get a full body workout using 11 hydraulic exercise machines targeting all major muscle groups with wheelchair-friendly equipment options. The Hale Senior Activity Center has recently added new fitness room equipment and cardio machines. They offer a Healthy Steps for Older Adults program and many other exercise programs. If pickleball is your game, both the Community Center and MLK Rec Center offer indoor pick-up games throughout the week. If golf is your exercise of choice, visit the Stirling Park Driving Range or the adjacent 37-acre walking park which is also dog friendly.
There are many opportunities to find peaceful moments in Dunedin, like watching the sunset at the Dunedin Marina or hiking, biking, playing and picnicking in one of the City’s 29 parks. You could also try taking a Tai Chi class or attend the Senior Awareness Fair on January 27 for financial advice and other topics for older adults at the Hale Senior Activity Center.
Feeling socially connected is more important than ever as it shapes our everyday life and well-being. Whether it is joining an advisory committee, volunteering at of the many special events put on by the Parks and Recreation Department, or attending a support group at the Hale Senior Activity Center, be sure to take the opportunity to connect with fellow peers and residents of Dunedin.
During the new year, we can help you start to incorporate the four vital LiveWell ingredients with your current passion and you will achieve those lifestyle modifications, and begin to feel better physically, emotionally and mentally.
For more information and your complete guide to our parks, programs and events, please visit www.DunedinGov.com/parksandrec or call 727-812-4530.