It’s the start of a brand new year! As we ring in 2023, many of us are looking to improve our overall health and well-being. If you live in the Merrimack Valley, you’re in luck! There are plenty of opportunities to help you get on track with all of your wellness goals!
Sign Up For A Fitness Club, Studio, or Gym
One great way to start the year off right is concentrating on your fitness routine. Maybe that means taking a closer look at your current routine and making some changes or just deciding this year is when you’re determined to have a regiment in place. And remember you don’t have to do it alone! In the Merrimack Valley, there are tons of fitness studios and gyms ready to help you get started. Many places also have great membership deals and packages for new year sign-ups! So this is a great time to sign up.
The Thoreau Club
275 Forest Ridge Road, Concord, MA 01742
Since 1951, the Thoreau Club has been helping families and individuals live active, happy, and healthy lives. They are committed to the well-being of the community and have a range of wellness opportunities like personal training to group fitness classes. They also have pilates reformer machines, aquatics, tennis, and even physical therapy. If you’re unsure where to start, they also offer a fitness strategy session to help you come up with a fitness plan for 2023.
On the Mat Yoga Studio
30 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742
On the Mat Yoga Studio in Concord is happy to welcome and teach students of all levels and abilities. As the team at On the Mat Yoga puts it: “Although yoga certainly can be physically challenging, the more important challenge comes in your ability to quiet your mind. When you step onto your mat, ask yourself if you can give your practice your full attention. Everything else will be waiting for you when you step off your mat. Yoga is your time to devote yourself to YOU.” What a great way to put yourself first this year!
Bikram Yoga Burlington
18 Terry Ave, Burlington, MA 01803
Already adept at yoga and looking to add a bit more challenge to your practice? Give Bikram Yoga in Burlington a try! This hot yoga practice intensifies the practice, but is still beginner friendly. This therapeutic yoga is perfect for helping to heal chronic pain and the heat can help relieve tension in the body. The original Bikram yoga series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises 90 minute classes. They also offer pilates if that is more your speed with all the health benefits of exercising in the heat.
Barre3
158 Great Road Bedford, MA 01730
Did you ever take ballet classes as a kid? Do you miss doing pliés and seeing your strength increase with every class? Consider heading to a barre class at Barre3 in Bedford! While barre isn’t exactly like ballet which is a dance, it can be very fulfilling if you crave that type of movement. Barre3 has an efficient and effective workout combining strength, cardio, and mindfulness that will leave you feeling balanced in body and empowered from within.
Embrace the Outdoors
If you prefer to get some fresh air with your exercise and you want to save on the routine costs of a gym, the great outdoors is perfect for you! While the winter can be a bit of a deterrent, if you love being outside, there are a lot of benefits to going outside.
Being outdoors is proven to help our mental health. Exposing ourselves to the winter sun and gaining back some of that missing vitamin D is a wonderful way to elevate your mood and get through the winter. Our moods naturally shift toward a sad mood when we have less sunlight during the day and so it’s good to be proactive and get more sun exposure especially during the winter. Of course, don’t forget your sunscreen because UV light can still damage our skin during the winter months.
Great Brook Ski Touring Center
1018 Lowell St, Carlisle, MA 01741
Operating under a contract with the Department of Recreation of Conservation and Recreation, they are open from December 1 to March 31, depending on snow conditions. The Great Brook Ski area offers trails for all levels of difficulty, and gives you an opportunity to explore beautiful landscapes full of farmland, forests, streams, and ponds within the 1,000 acres of the Great Brook Farm and the surrounding State Park.
The option for a daily trail pass or a season pass is one of the cheaper options on the list so this might be a great economical option. Even their rental rates for a full package that includes skis, boots, and poles is only $20.
The Nashua River Trail
The Nashua River Trail runs 11 miles through the towns of Ayer, Groton Pepperell, and Dunstable, and is friendly for walkers and bikers alike. The trail is also open for roller blading, horseback riding (of course, depending on the trail’s winter conditions).
Once the snow falls, the Nashua River Trail also provides a great opportunity for cross-country skiing. Trail-goers are asked to follow trail etiquette and to be respectful of private properties along the path.
Walden Pond State Reservation
915 Walden St, Concord, MA 01742
In Walden Pond, Thoreau wrote: “The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask.”
Just like Thoreau, you can go forward with your resolutions and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery at Walden Pond State Reservation. Bundle up and walk along the scenic trails. And once the snow rolls in, many of these trails are perfect for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Healthy Food Choices
The body isn’t the only part of you that benefits from enjoying healthy and delicious foods. Your mind does as well! In the winter, it’s important to have a healthy diet and eat more vitamin D rich foods like dark leafy greens. When planning your meals this month, consider in-season vegetables and fruits. Along with farms, CSA programs, and local markets, the Merrimack Valley is full of restaurants and cafes that offer healthy menu options.
Lexington Winter Farmers’ Market
739 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420
Start Date: January 7, 2023
Time: 11:00 – 2:00pm
Have you been missing the local farmers’ market that you go to during the summer months? Well, just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t support your local farmers or get winter hardy vegetables. Head to the Lexington Winter Farmers’ Market for a ton of healthy options and get a chance to support local agriculture. Locally grown, sourced, produced in Lexington, Massachusetts.
2023 LFM Winter Market Dates To Add To Your Calendar:
- January 7 & 21
- February 4 & 18
- March 4 & 18
- April 1 & 15
Head to their website for a full list of their vendors.
Life Alive Organic Cafe
194 Middle St #3, Lowell, MA 01852
If you love to eat organic food, you’ve probably heard of Life Alive Organic Cafe. Thinking a salad won’t cut it when the cold weather comes in? No worries because Life Alive has a number of warm and healthy meals. For example, their warm grain bowl, the Rainbow Harvest,is full of nourishment: whipped sweet potato, beets, carrots, broccoli, kale, tofu and brown rice with ginger tamari sauce. Check out their full menu of soups, ramen, snacks, and even breakfast foods.
Finally, don’t forget to take care of your overall health by getting regular check-ups and screenings. The Merrimack Valley is home to a number of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, offering everything from routine check-ups to specialized care.
As you start the new year, take advantage of the many resources and opportunities available in the Merrimack Valley to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, reduce stress, or improve your overall health, you’ll find plenty of support and resources to help you get there.
