Rolly Pollies of WNY

In a time when the national obesity epidemic is talked about on a daily basis, it is important to get kids active at an early age. Rolly Pollies of WNY aims to start kids as young as six months to instill a healthy and active lifestyle. 

The infant program is just one of many programs offered at Rolly Pollies, but was one that I could tell owner Jim Fleckenstein loved to talk about. The program aims to help infants build their gross motor skills and strengthen their core for balance as they begin to explore walking. The group classes that include Mommy and/or Daddy often open parents eyes to what their young ones can do.  

All classes (offered at various age levels) are non-competitive and usually run in 9 week sessions with a specific curriculum. Class size is kept fairly small, working with a 6:1 ratio of students to instructors. Most classes max out around 20 participants to allow staff the chance to work with each student. 

In addition to all the gym classes offered for ages 6 months - 12 years, Rolly Pollies offers music and creative arts programs. During school breaks they offer short sessions to keep the kids moving, and offer other specialty classes & workshops throughout the year. They also have open gym hours where parents can bring their kids to play with any of the equipment in the gym ($10 - $15 per hour depending on age, $5 for each additional hour). 

One other great option for parents are their birthday parties.  Instead of trying to find a few hours worth of activities to keep a group of young ones occupied, Rolly Pollies offers the open gym and staff to help them with the equipment. 

They truly offer programs for all levels and work hard to not only give kids the time to exercise, but teach them about muscle groups, nutrition, and learning how to make healthy choices. Each class ends with a homework assignment where students are asked to keep track of healthy choices they made and then share them with their friends next week. 

I visited the East Amherst facility on Transit Road (they also have another location in Orchard Park) and was impressed by the colorful gym filled with so many wonderful pieces of equipment. Kids have the chance to work on the balance beam, trampoline, zip line and more. Rolly Pollies isn't your traditional gymnastics program, they offer so much more for students and parents. 

"Rolly Pollies has really become a tight knit community." Jim told me. "Families quickly become friends outside of the gym. Getting to watch kids come in when they were infants and still be with our program now makes them a part of our extended family." 

For owners Jim & Danielle Fleckenstein, owning a business in Buffalo was an easy choice, it was home. After living around the country, they both wanted to move back to Buffalo to be around family and to start a family of their own. There were no other gyms offering the services they could provide in Western New York, so they moved back and have continued to grow for the past seven years!

You can find out about all the programs they offer on their website and stay in touch with them on their Facebook and Twitter pages. 

If you have children and want to get them on the right path to an active and healthy lifestyle, a call or visit to Rolly Pollies should be on the top of your list! Now, especially as the winter months tend to leave us indoors more, Rolly Pollies can open a whole new world for the young ones in your lives. 

Pictures from around the gyms

Buffalo, Shake It With Zumba!

A little over four years ago, I saw an infomercial for Zumba Fitness. As someone who had been teaching aerobics for a few years, I was looking for new class formats to try out. From the moment the infomercial started, I knew that Zumba would be my next adventure. I hopped on the Zumba website and decided to become licensed to teach it. 

A few weeks later I drove up to Rochester, NY and became a licensed Zumba Instructor. Within the first hour of the training, I was hooked. I spent the next few weeks immersing myself in Latin music before starting up the classes at Best Fitness in Tonawanda. I couldn't believe the feedback! At the time, Zumba was fairly unknown in the area, but after a few classes, the room was packed, and the numbers kept increasing. 

That fall I also began teaching Zumba for Bodyshaping By Sandy. Students fell in love with the classes, and above that were losing weight and gaining self esteem. Zumba changed my life too. It helped me lose weight, and teaching the classes helped me through some tough times in my life. It became a second family to me. It became that ME time, and an hour a night to just let anything bothering me fade away. 

I continued to regularly teach Zumba classes until this fall semester. I decided I needed to take a little time off to give my body a break and focus on a few other things. I am terribly missing it, so I decided I'd check out some other local instructor classes and learn some new moves of my own! 

Buffalo is full of so many wonderful Zumba instructors, and each has their own unique style, giving Buffalonians so many great options to choose from. I decided to highlight five local instructors, either offering classes on their own, or working out of local gyms/fitness companies, who each share the same passion for Zumba that I do. 

Julie Francis

Julie and I have been friends for a while. We met while teaching for Bodyshaping By Sandy. Julie got involved in Zumba on a whim. The owner of Bodyshaping asked instructors to check it out, and Julie decided to, never thinking she would actually teach. Julie didn't feel confident in her dancing and was never comfortable dancing in front of others. Zumba changed that for her. 

"The best part is helping others. I really enjoy helping people reach their fitness goals and love getting them to realize that exercise can be fun." Julie told me. "One student has already lost 30 lbs. and keeps coming back for more. Another student has gained so much self confidence."

Julie brings so much fun to her Zumba classes. She has a great sense of humor that gets her students laughing and forgetting they are working out. She offers great "pep talks" during class that stick with her students long after their class is over. 

Julie incorporates so many easy, fun and catchy routines in, and always choreographs special songs during holidays and special occasions. She keeps that heart rate pumping high throughout her class and has more energy than anyone I know. 

In addition to a fitness routine, Julie tells her students to eat as naturally as possible. "Try not to put anything artificial in your body."

Julie teaches classes in West Seneca for Bodyshaping By Sandy & Curves. She also offers her own classes at St. John's Church in West Seneca and teaches at Villa Maria College for students and staff. Her classes typically run about $5 each, or classes can be purchased in semesters. 

Mary Gibbons

Like me, Mary's first time taking a Zumba class was when she took the Zumba training to become licensed to teach. Mary was one of the original instructors who brought Zumba to The Buffalo Athletic Club. I met Mary when I purchased a three month summer membership to the BAC a few years ago. Mary's class was the first Zumba class I ever attended, outside of teaching my own classes. Teaching Zumba has always been my passion, but that day, I never had so much fun taking a class. 

Mary's personality is electric. She radiates happiness and joy, and you can't possibly have a bad time when you are in her class. She found a way to engage all her students from the front to the back of the room. "The best part of Zumba for me is the people. Not just the .

front row divas but that shy person in the back who finally gets that one step & breaks out in  the biggest smile in the world. It's my job to make everyone feel good and get a great workout."

"There are so many success stories!" Mary told me. "I never realized until I started teaching just how much impact one word or a smile can have."  

Mary's tip to those looking to get in shape out there: "Just move!" Whether it's playing with your kids, taking a walk or joining a fitness class, just keep moving! 

Mary teaches at a handful of the different BAC locations throughout the area. You can check out her schedule on their website. Non-members can also check out the classes! Drop Mary and e-mail today and she will get you into a class for free! 

Dawn Hammer

After giving birth to her second child, Dawn Hammer was suffering from post-partum depression. As she sought therapy to help her out, part of the plan was to join fitness classes. In the past she would sign up for classes but never really attend. A fellow fitness instructor inspired her to join in classes, and eventually to teach. When Dawn heard the Latin beats of Zumba, she was instantly hooked. Soon after, she contacted a local fitness company and attended a Zumba training. Instantly, Dawn felt better about herself, was noticing physical differences in her body and turned around a very hopeless mind frame. 

Dawn offers classes Monday - Thursday evenings at The Park School in Snyder. Classes typically run around $5 per class, but you can buy different packages that reduce that cost even more! I had the chance to check out one of Dawn's classes this summer, on a very hot Buffalo summer night. The gym used for these classes is a good size and there were around 20 people in the class the night I went. There was plenty of room to move around. 

Dawn uses a lot of hip hop influence in her songs and the routines are fun and easy to follow. She throws in a few combinations that challenge those that aren't beginners, but after a few times through, everyone in the class had the steps down. Dawn uses different formations throughout class and brings in one of my favorites, "the battle" to break up the class and get everyone shaking! 

"People often tell me they don't have time to workout. While there are a lot of excuses, think of what you are getting in return: More energy during the day, rest better at night, and stay healthy to take care of family." 

Dawn's students have surely reaped the benefits. Students have increased bone density, were able to get off blood pressure medications and helped put their diabetes at bay, in addition to losing weight!

You can't help but feel inspired after an hour in her class. 

Olivia Ebsary

For the past 22 years, Olivia has been teaching a variety of different fitness programs to different populations. Her favorite have always been the dance based ones. "Dance is a powerful expression, and the joy of dance has always compelled me to find a way to make dance accessible to the masses."

With the simplicity of Zumba, the powerful Latin music, and the ability to let the music "call us" to dance, Olivia knew she had found her niche. "Dancing is the most fun you can have standing up!" She told me, and I tend to agree!

I had the chance to check out Olivia's class at Canalside this past summer. Canalside offered FREE classes during the week and Tuesday evenings were Zumba. A few of my friends and I checked out the class, and as far as class locations go, there has been no better spot than Canalside. On a beautiful summer night in Buffalo you get to see the sun set over the water! Olivia leads the classes along with two other instructors from Catalyst Fitness. 

While all three ladies who led the class were great, I really enjoyed the songs that Olivia did. Her facial expressions, movements and the wonderful passion you could see from her, made me wish I was taking a full hour of just her classes. You can catch her in action at Catalyst Fitness during the week. 

Both the newbies and the regulars make the class for Olivia, who said, "Seeing newbies after their first class knowing they are hooked and watching the regulars keep coming back and making a commitment to fitness that they never could before is the best part of Zumba for me."

When I asked Olivia about success stories, she answered a little differently than the others. "Zumba at the Waterfront has been a success story for Buffalo! It has been a part of the revitalization project at Canalside and our numbers were better than we could have hoped for. People had no idea where the waterfront was, where to park and if it was safe, but as they started to come out of the woodwork, they not only experienced Zumba, but the beautiful waterfront Buffalo has to offer! Now, a new crowd of people have experienced the revitalization taking place in this area!"

What more could you ask for, Buffalo?

Jill Winiatowski

For Jill, Zumba was the answered prayer she never expected! After leaving her full-time job in Employee Relations at UB, Jill became a stay at home Mom. She was teaching a few Pilates classes at the time but was hoping she would figure out a career path as time went on.  

After a fellow fitness instructor friend had to step back from teaching Zumba, Jill was asked to take over. She quickly learned the routines and took the training class and immediately was hooked. She couldn't believe she could earn a living dancing and sharing it with others. 

"I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that getting paid to do the one thing that I absolutely love is an absolute dream come true!" Jill told me. "But, it's not just that, it's the fact that I'm dancing with amazing people, my "Zumba babes" as I call them." Zumba is all about diversity in music and rhythms and Jill sees that diversity in her students every week. They come from different backgrounds, are different ages, but share one common passion for dancing and getting in shape! 

When I attended a special summer class Jill organized, I wished I lived closer so I could join her classes regularly. She combines great music, fun choreography and a lot of energy into an hour class that flies by. Out of all the classes I attended this summer, that was the one that felt most like a "family." You could tell all these ladies felt welcome, and over time have developed great friendships, in large part because of Jill. 

Jill's classes run through West Seneca Community Education and Lancaster Community Education and are offered in ten week sessions. While she doesn't offer a "walk in" option, you can contact her and get a guest pass at certain locations. 

Jill's fitness tip to everyone is to find a program that you love, because the most effective program is one that you will stick with! 

For thousands of Buffalonians, they have found that fitness program to be Zumba. If you haven't checked it out yet, please consider getting in touch with one of these amazing Buffalo women who all have an incredible passion for Zumba and helping people in Buffalo reach their fitness goals. 

Happy shaking!

Krystal's Buffalo Summer Finds

With the change in weather this weekend, I guess I have to come to terms with the fact that summer in Buffalo is over. This past summer I explored Buffalo like never before. I had the opportunity to take a good look at the gorgeous architecture in the area, and learn about its history. Living in this area all my life, I've always known the basics, but taking the time to really get to know specific buildings and neighborhoods was an extremely fun way to spend the summer. 

Someone asked me the other day what my favorite outing of the summer was. If I really had to choose just ONE it would be number five on this list, but there were a handful of great NEW finds for me this summer. 

Here are my top five favorite things from the summer in Buffalo (in no particular order):

1.) Buffalo Bites Food Tour - With the tagline of "Eat. Explore. Experience Buffalo.", the food tour was the number one thing on my summer to-do list. I took one of the tours in July along with nine other people (four from out of town). We started the tour at The Globe Market and then went to an additional five stops over the course of two hours. Owner and tour guide, Laura Reed gave us a little history lesson on each of the food stops we made along the way. Many of the stops were places I'd already been to, but I learned something new everywhere we went. We sampled traditional Buffalo food (the chicken wing and sponge candy) and were offered other desserts, snacks and drinks along the way. The food  portions were generous and everything we tried was absolutely delicious. By the end of the tour, I was very full and satisfied! We broke up our sampling by walking around historic Elmwood learning about architecture and influential people during the time. The tour offered something for everyone. We were fortunate that it was a gorgeous summer day as we walked around and explored. The tour costs $42, and was definitely worth it. The season of tours has wrapped up, but Buffalo Bites will be back in 2013! If you have guests in from out of town, or are looking for a fun date, outing with the girls or gift, check out Buffalo Bites!

  

Sponge candy ice cream from Watson's and chicken wings from Cole's

2.) Free fitness classes at Canalside - This summer I had the opportunity to check out some of the free fitness classes offered by Canalside. Fitness enthusiasts had the chance to choose from Pilates, Yoga and Zumba classes held Monday - Wednesday evenings. I was only able to get down for a few, but the classes were an absolute blast. The ones I attended each had a great turnout and people were energetic and lively. The instructors were fun and provided a great workout, without it ever feeling like you were working out. The sun set towards the end of the classes and it was the perfect spot to be!  If you belong to a gym or take group fitness classes, this is the perfect alternative one summer night to being cooped up inside. 

Instructors from Catalyst Fitness lead a Zumba class

3.) Social Media Club Buffalo - As someone who works in social media, I wasn't even aware Buffalo had a social media club until I joined Twitter towards the end of last year! At the end of June, the club hosted "Social Media Day" inside The Statler Lobby Bar. It was a 'happy hour' type of event with food, drink and a chance to network with other local professionals. The event was a great time and I am looking forward to participating in more events with the club. They typically host monthly meetings and offer other activities throughout the year. If you work in social media in Buffalo, it's really a must join club. Buffalo is filled with professional development opportunities for whatever field you work in, you just need to do a little research!

4.) Open Air Buffalo Tours - In July, I took one of the Whirlwind Tours done by Tim Thielman from Open Air Buffalo Tours. The two hour tour was a fascinating look at different architectural hot spots in Buffalo, filled with so many great tidbits of information I didn't know about the area. The stories, the history and the plans for the future make it a must do if you are a Buffalover. If you aren't, odds are you will be after you take the tour. The tours typically run around $20, and they offer a handful of different ones throughout the summer months. 

     

City Hall and The Guaranty Building in Buffalo

5.) The H.H. Richardson Complex - I've always been fascinated with the Complex, but in August I had the opportunity to take an in-depth tour of the facilities and I've fallen completely in love with the property and its history since. The complex, put simply, is a masterpiece. It's a reminder that Buffalo was and can be again an extremely prosperous city where builders want to build. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Museums by Moonlight in September, and spent the evening talking about the building, and seeing people's faces light up when they walked in it for the first time. The Complex will be offering more tours next year, and this winter will begin training docents (myself included!). The Complex is currently being rehabilitated and restored. By 2015 it will become a boutique hotel and the Buffalo architecture center. The progress they have made so far is outstanding. Outside the building they are creating a new public park, which should be open in 2013. It is truly a testament to the strong group of preservationists in the area. 

Fall in Buffalo and the surrounding area is beautiful too, and as I finish up this post, I'm getting ready to go pumpkin picking and check out the leaves in the area. I can't say I'm quite ready for winter yet, but I'm looking forward to posting my Fall Finds later this year!

Stay tuned!

Bodyshaping By Sandy

So now that the holidays are over and many of us are carrying around a few extra pounds, I'm giving a plug for WNY's largest fitness company, Bodyshaping By Sandy.

There are people who love going to the gym, and then there are people who are either scared of it, don't want to spend their time on a treadmill or elliptical or don't want to spend the money on the membership.

Bodyshaping By Sandy provides an awesome alternative to those who don't want a gym membership. But above that, the classes are really a great way to meet new people, share a few laughs, and get into the best shape of your life.

For 22 years Bodyshaping By Sandy has been offering group fitness classes for individuals and businesses in the Western New York area. Currently they are offering Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, 20-20-20, Tai Chi, and The Wet Workout to get you in shape in the new year!

Owner Sandy Mannella rents space at over 40 locations throughout Western New York, so there are classes in your neighborhood today! The classes run in ten week semesters, with the next semester beginning up the week of January 9th. Bodyshaping By Sandy is offering some great New Year specials so check out the website www.bodyshapingbysandy.com today to see what fits your schedule. Descriptions of each of the classes are given on the website as well!

Even better - depending on your health insurance, classes may be free. They accept plans from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Independent Health and others. To see if your plan is accepted, please call 716-568-0246 today! The office is open Monday - Thursday from 10am - 4pm.

So how do I know they work? Well, to be honest, I work for Bodyshaping By Sandy...BUT, before working for them I took the classes and it helped me kick start my weight loss (35 lbs!). I've taken fitness classes all over WNY, and while I've enjoyed many of them, the classes Bodyshaping By Sandy offer have been the best. Getting to meet a ton of new faces every semester has really given me a great network of new friends. I always love seeing my classes evolve over the 10 week semesters. People come in shy, by themselves, and within a few weeks I have to quiet down the class to get it started because everyone is gabbing away!

Getting to see things from the "teacher" point of view, I have been so impressed with the difference the classes have made for my students. I've seen ladies come in with little self confidence and after ten weeks they have broken out of their shell. I've seen some tremendous weight loss and most importantly I've seen people leave classes with a smile on their faces and the energy and strength to keep going.

So what class do I recommend? Well, I'd be lying if I didn't say that ZUMBA has changed my life. It's a latin based dance fitness program that incorporates rhythms from all over the world. During the hour cardio class you will be taken on a trip around the world, exploring salsa, cha cha, merengue, cumbia, belly dancing, tango, quebradita, and more! It's the highest impact class Bodyshaping By Sandy offers, but it is an absolute blast, and a great class from beginner to the advanced exerciser.

If you want to loosen up the joints, and stretch out, the Yoga, Pilates Fusion and Tai Chi classes are tremendous. To build your muscles and get a great overall workout try Total Body Boot Camp. If you want a lower impact but total body workout, try 20-20-20.

If you are looking for a fun way to get fit in 2012, consider trying out Bodyshaping By Sandy. I promise it will be the best decision you make this year!

Delaware Park: Ring Road, The Lunch Box, War of 1812 Memorial

My favorite thing to do on my lunch break in the summer is to walk down to Delaware Park and do one lap around Ring Road in Delaware Park.

One lap around Ring Road is approximately 1.78 miles and it circles around the golf course and soccer fields. The roads are paved well, it is always clean, and most of the people you come across are really friendly. It's a great, safe and pretty place to walk, jog, ride a bike, walk with your baby, or rollerblade. You even get to catch the sight of some of the animals at The Buffalo Zoo on the lap around (my favorite are the Buffalo!)

The Park surrounding the road is a good place to go and chill out after work or before. Everytime I go there I see people sitting on lawn chairs reading the paper, a book or are listening to their IPod's.

Within walking distance to Ring Road is The Parkside Lodge that houses The Lunchbox, a really yummy lunch spot that serves sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups throughout the year. They are priced reasonably and it is usually a favorite lunch spot in the summer for people at my work. I highly recommend the following: The Roasted Veggie Wrap ($5.50), BBQ pulled pork (4.95) and Caprese Wrap ($5.50).

They also have a smaller kiosk halfway around Ring Road with a smaller limited menu for the summer. I just noticed today that they are open NOW but only from 2pm - 8pm on weekdays, which is a bummer since I am always there earlier in the day than that.

One fact I recently learned about Delaware Park is that is has a historical tie in to the War of 1812. Located at the center of the Park (where the golf course is now) is a mass grave for 300 American soliders who were killed in the War of 1812. In the center of the golf course there is a rock which marks the area with a plaque. One of these days while I'm on my walk I am planning on getting out to the middle of the course to snap a shot of the rock. What an interesting piece of history for war buffs out there.

If you want to get outdoors this summer to get in your workouts, make the drive to Delaware Park (there's a decent amount of free parking) and do a lap or two around Ring Road. It's a great way to get a workout in, enjoy the Buffalo scenery and change up your normal routine!

I'm usually down there weekdays sometime between 12-130 (depending on when I decide to take my lunch) so if you see me, say hello!

**PLEASE NOTE: Since this blog was published in 2011, The Lunchbox has moved out of The Parkside Lounge and operates out of The Tri Main Building on Main Street.

BFLO Harbor Kayak

On Memorial Day 2011 Geoffrey, Jacob and I went down to the Erie Basin Marina to walk around the Naval Park and canoe!

We rented a canoe from Bflo Harbor Kayak and had an absolute blast. They are located at The Central Wharf on the Commercial Slip. They just have a blue tent with a small sign stating their name and life jackets hanging from the tent. You can't miss the different kayaks and canoes they have next to the tent, and down on the docks.

It cost $30 for an hour for the three of us (although the cost is really for two people).

We were given our paddles and the owner helped us into the canoe and set us free! I'm not sure if it is something I would have done on my own (since that was my first time canoeing), but luckily Geoffrey had done it before, so I knew we'd be safe. I was sorta surprised that they didn't give you any tips or say anything other than, "See you in an hour", but I guess they are targeting people who have done it before. You do have a waiver you are asked to sign releasing them from anything that may happen to you while you are out there.

We canoed around inside the Marina; we didn't want to venture out too far and get stuck with bigger waves. We canoed near the old grain elevators and the General Mills plant and it was interesting to see how the old industrial buildings were built. We had fun looking at all the different boats and seeing their names. It intrigued me to learn more about the grain elevators and I'm gonna do some research on it. They offer a tour of them through Buffalo Tours, so maybe I'll do that...either way, it will probably end up being a blog post soon!

All three of us took turns at paddling and after a while we got into a good groove. It definitely does take a lot of upper body strength that I don't have, but I did pretty good with what I could. We paddled leisurely so we could enjoy the sights around us too :)

You can also rent them for 1/2 the day and it really isn't that much more money ($45 for 4 hours)

The best deal they offer is getting the season pass which only costs $75. Get out once a week and it's quite a deal!

The owner was a friendly guy and it's a great way to get in some exercise and enjoy the sights of Buffalo around you. I'd suggest it if you've canoed or kayaked before, but if you haven't, make sure you take someone experienced out with you!