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A few West Siders added something fast and furious to their Monday night routine this week: a cardio kickboxing class.
The 20 adults are among those taking part in an eight-week health and fitness challenge at Garfield Park this week.
It includes two fitness classes each week, healthy cooking and a group therapy session. It is hosted by the Garfield Park Community Council’s Campaign for Health Safety.
The full program costs $5 for all weight weeks, and all 20 slots are already filled.
At first, those 20 people had several health markers measured, including blood pressure, blood glucose levels and body circumference.
In the end, they prove their progress — though Rivers added it wasn’t a “Biggest Loser” challenge.
“It’s about healthy living, and that looks different for everyone,” she said.
Instructor Seobia Rivers leads participants through an eight-week health and fitness challenge at West Side’s Cardio Kickboxing class at Garfield Fieldhouse.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Sun-Times
Organizers hope to pay some health trends in the West; Adults in East and West Garfield Park experience some of the highest levels of physical activity compared to any other area in the city, according to the Chicago Health Atlas.
“The essence of this challenge is developing a way for the residents of Garfield Park and Chicago to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Seobia Rivers, the woman who runs the program.
Even those who cannot attend the full program can participate; The fitness classes are open to the public, and are free, although donations to Rite to Wellness are accepted. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. through Nov. 16 at Garfield Field House, 100 N. Central Park Ave.
Cooking classes are held at the Hatchery in Garfield Park and therapy sessions via Zoom.
Participants in the eight-week health and fitness challenge will participate in a cardio kickboxing class at Garfield Fieldhouse.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Sun-Times
On Mondays, Rivers – the founder of a gym in Pilsen – alternates between a cardio kickboxing course and a circuit training course; On Wednesdays, certified yoga instructor Jasmin Graham alternates between yoga and jump rope cardio classes.
Graham, a West Side native, said many members of the community had to travel to the North Side or Near West Side to take these types of classes. When she got her certificate, she couldn’t find any courses close to home.
“For me, who was born and raised in West Garfield Park, I’ve never known anything different for the health and safety of the community.”
Michael Loria is a staff reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Report to AmericaA nonprofit journalism program aimed at strengthening the paper’s coverage of communities in the South and West.
The cardio kickboxing class at Garfield Fieldhouse helped launch an eight-week health and fitness challenge on the West Side. The challenge is organized by the Garfield Park Community Council.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Sun-Times
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