Like many things in 2020, many of our New Year’s resolutions will likely look a little different this year.
While in other years people may have focused on weight loss or adopting a more active lifestyle, for example, people’s goals may be a little more holistic this year.
“Wellness this year will look different than in years past,” suggests Lisa Banks, Fitness Programmer with Saanich Recreation. “I think people will be a little more introspective, and consider what fitness and wellness will look like for them this year.”
Given the public health restrictions on adult sports and high-impact fitness classes – two of the most popular programs each January – people may well look to other wellness opportunities.
Throughout the pandemic, the team at Saanich Recreation has actively looked at ways to safely adapt programming to service people’s health, fitness and recreation needs. So while HIIT classes might not be available right now, for example, you can look at options ranging from waterfit to yoga.
The Commonwealth and Gordon Head pools overall have become popular destinations since safely reopening this past fall. “It’s amazing how many people have returned to swimming,” Lisa says.
Weight rooms at each of Saanich’s four recreation centres provide additional options for those wanting to make a fitness plan for 2021. With reservation-based use, the weight rooms undergo a thorough cleaning every 90 minutes and with respiratory screens between aerobic machines like treadmills.
Personal training – in the gym or in the pool – is another one-on-one tool to help you create a personalized plan to reach your goals for 2021.
Be kind – to you
As we turn the calendar on the unprecedented year that 2020 was, Lisa suggests that people take Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s urging to “Be Kind” to heart – for themselves.
If you’ve weathered this pandemic with a few less-positive coping methods, “don’t beat yourself up; instead, be kind to yourself,” Lisa says, suggesting 2021 will be a great time to discover something new, whether it’s hiking a new-to-you park – Saanich has hundreds to choose from! – or discovering a new wellness program that provides a different way to greet life’s stresses.
“I think people will have a more mindful approach as they look at this year’s New Year’s resolutions,” she says. “It can be a much more impactful resolution than people might think.”
Registration for January and February programming is underway. You can also visit online to stay up to date with the latest COVID protocols as it relates to recreation.