St Vincent’s Medical Center Opens Next Round Of Wellness Classes

BRIDGEPORT — St Vincent’s Medical Center is now offering health and wellness classes to its surrounding community. Previously only available to employees, these classes are now open to the public and will be offered at the Medical Center’s 2800 Main Street location starting in September.

Sarah Collins, who has been the exercise physiologist at St Vincent’s for five years, shares that she is “really excited to engage our community in their health and wellness, and happy that St Vincent’s can be a part of that.” Class participants are required to sign a waiver prior to registration.

Most sessions run for ten weeks, with the exception of the Pilates class, which is offered six weeks at a time and the Y Diabetes Prevention Program and Weight Watchers program, which are 16 and 17 week sessions, respectively.

The ten-week sessions are $90.

 Exercise and stress-reduction class offerings include Qigong/tai chi, yoga, Zumba, and Pilates. Qigong/tai chi teaches participants to relax, renew energy and heal through slow movements, breathing and mental focus. These classes will meet Wednesdays from 5 to 6 pm starting September 21.

Yoga affords students the ability to experience harmony of body/mind/spirit while reducing stress and improving strength, flexibility, and well-being. Yoga classes will meet Tuesdays 5 to 6:15 pm starting September 13.

Zumba classes combine music and dance moves with Latin and international flavor. Zumba will meet Tuesdays 4 to 5 pm, starting September 20 or Thursdays 5 to 6 pm, starting September 22.

A Pilates class is also offered for stronger abdominal and back muscles. The first session of Pilates begins September 19 and the second begins November 7. Classes will meet Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 pm.

For community members interested in learning about healthy eating choices, another wellness class is the Weight Watchers program. These classes will meet Tuesdays from 4 to 4:30 pm. Information and Registration is Tuesday, September 6.

The 17-week session then begins Tuesday, September 13. The fee is $197, which can be divided into three installments.

Parking tickets for the Visitor Garage in front of the Center Classes will be validated. Contact Sarah Collins, employee health and wellness, 203-576-6267, or scollins@stvincents.org regarding registration for all programs.

Lastly, the hospital is presenting the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program designed to help people with prediabetes. In a classroom setting, a lifestyle coach teaches and supports students by covering topics like healthy eating, physical activity, reducing stress, and more. Classes start Wednesday, September 21.

Research by the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that with lifestyle changes a person with prediabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

Registration is with Barbara Moore at the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, who can e-mailed at bmoore@cccymca.org. The fee is $150 for YMCA members, $250 for nonmembers and free for United Healthcare participants.