SPECIALTY CLASSES
Optimal Health and Fitness sometimes offers special classes we feel are important.
Below is a list and description. 
Please view CALENDAR to view when our current specialty classes are being held.


STRETCHING AND MYOFASCIAL RELEASE/FOAM ROLLING
Stretching and flexibility are two of the fundamental aspects of health. The ability to move your joints within normal range of motion without restrictions are crucial to injury prevention and overall health of muscles tendons and ligaments. This week we will focus on learning how and when to stretch and different techniques that will allow you to release adhesions and increase flexibility. We will also focus on proper posture while sitting sleeping and walking.



ACUPUNCTURE FOR DETOXIFICATION
You can detoxify your body with acupuncture. Acupuncture is a major treatment component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has been practiced since several ages ago. The principle behind acupuncture lies on the balance of Qi (pronounced as chi) or the vital life energy force that harmonizes and nourishes the functions of the body.



INTRODUCTION TO QI GONG
Qi Gong Stretch/Tao Yin Yoga and Qi Gong for Stress Reduction are two classes we offer. 
Chinese qi gong has been practiced for centuries to promote health and mental clarity and has been shown, through time-honored practice and scientific investigation, to be effective in relieving the symptoms of a variety of ailments. Sometimes called “moving meditation,” one of the primary benefits of qi gong practice is stress reduction. As research shows that stress is linked to a variety of related conditions—including hypertension, asthma, depression and heart disease—interest in the stress relieving properties of qi gong has spread around the world.

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE RUNNING
It's all about utilizing gravity. When we run we're continually about to topple over. Our natural reaction is to place our foot forward to break the fall. Then we push off again and repeat the process. This is conventional running acceleration followed by immediate deceleration. One successful running method is to eliminate the deceleration. Instead of trying to break the fall, the idea is to be continually on the edge of toppling, so that gravity becomes your friend. This is achieved through shorter, staccato strides with a very light forefoot landing which underneath the hip, rather than in front of it. It’s not necessarily landing on the ball of the foot rather than the heel, but rather it's really about keeping a steep angle from the ankle and not bending at the hip. That's the difficult bit, as we naturally want to bend at the hip for fear of falling.


SHOE FITTING CLINIC
Come and learn about the proper running shoe for you. 4 Steps at our local Running Revolution store: Step 1: Health & History; Step 2: Arch Analysis; Step 3: Gait Analysis; Step 4: Socks, and other products to make your fitness experience more comfortable and injury-free. They use patented technology, a treadmill and years of expertise to guide you in buying the right sneakers.




And much more.....