We’re about to turn the page on the calendar and be hit with the annual onslaught of circulars advertising fitness equipment and workout wear, and hard-to-keep promises to ourselves about hitting the gym daily (if it’s open) or sweating it out at home while doing virtual classes. Many of us have also vowed to back away from all of the pandemic and holiday indulgence and bad habits. It can all be a bit overwhelming.
But the Rosslyn BID just announced a way to make our 2021 health goals more manageable, do-able and fun: an online wellness guide using the neighborhood’s streets, parks and trails for fitness inspiration for people of all ages and skill levels.
Make Rosslyn your outdoor gym by running up and walking back down the 10 flights of stairs on North Nash Street between Key Boulevard and Lee Highway, or use street lights to track intervals during a hill workout that starts at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and North Kent Street and ends with a refreshing smoothie at South Block. Do a strength circuit in Gateway Park with box jumps, side planks, calf raises and forward lunges, or a pyramid cardio circuit in Freedom Park.
The guide also gives the locations where you can rent a bike through the Capital Bike Share and how to explore the Curtis Trail and Mount Vernon Trail. And you can run on your lunch hour or after work with four itineraries with distances ranging from 1.5-5km and three trails located on Theodore Roosevelt Island, challenge yourself with the Rosslyn Power Mile or run while taking a peek at public art displayed around town. No matter your workout, end with a mindfulness break at one of six spots mentioned that are perfect for stopping and taking a breath or quietly meditating.
Rosslyn knows a thing or two about healthy living. In July, Arlington was named America’s Fittest City in the annual American Fitness Index rankings published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Anthem Foundation, which evaluated 100 American cities using 33 health behaviors, chronic diseases and community infrastructure; Arlington ranked #1 in two key indicators: lowest rate of adults with obesity and highest rate of residents meeting aerobic and strength activity guidelines.
You can access the guide here.
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