Jeff Roux and Shawn O'Brien have owned Excel fitness for four years. Excel provides personal training, fitness assessment and massage. Its equipment includes strength machines, elliptical machines, free weights, bicycles, stair masters and treadmills. Excel also has classes in yoga, body sculpting, Pilates and weight loss. It is heavily involved in charitible organizations such as the West Hartford Food Pantry, Breast Cancer Drives, local school supply drives and Big Brother and Sister.
The Kennedy Memorial Park has playground apparatus, picnic tables, wading pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, athletic fields and restrooms. There are no grills, but you may bring your own. There is a full-size outdoor swimming pool. Summer pool programs include recreational and adult lap swims, and lessons for swimmers of all skill levels. The pool is open to the public from the end of June through late August. The park is available for rental for individuals, businesses and organizations to hold meetings, parties and sports events.
Estelle Jones School of Dance is located in the basement of the Elmwood Community Center. It offers ballet, point, jazz and tap and students range in age from three-year-olds to adult. The school has a page on Facebook where you can connect with other dancers from the past and the present!
Alyce Carella Dance Centre was rated Best of Hartford in the Hartford Magazine reader's poll in 2008, 2009 and 2010. It offers classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap and more. This studio has classes for 3-year-olds to adults. It does birthday parties. Alyce Carella assures you that you'll be "instructed and disciplined by experienced, dedicated, professional teachers who take pride in their work and enjoy positive results with their students."
Fernridge Park features a playground, picnic tables, wading pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, restrooms and a full-sized outdoor swimming pool. Although there are no grills, visitors may bring their own. Summer pool programs include recreational and adult lap swims as well as lessons for swimmers of all skill levels. The pool is open to the public from the end of June through late August. The park can be rented by individuals, businesses or organizations to hold meetings, parties or sporting events.
Hwang's School of Martial Arts is located on the second floor studio of the 1007 Farmington Avenue building complex. It offers classes inTae Kwon Do, Judo, Hapkido and Aikido. It has classes for both children and adults. Grand Master Ho Soo Hwang is an 8th Degree Black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Aikido, and a 7th Degree Black belt in Judo. Hwang's has a "buddy pass" to bring a friend for a free two weeks of classes.
Curves is a gym where "women change their lives, 30 minutes at a time." It's been said that you can burn up to 500 calories with Curves' 30-minute workout. The workout combines strength training and cardio. It has professional trainers to guide you, using CurveSmart, a state-of-the-art personalized coaching system. Its hydraulic resistance machines are designed specifically for women.
Pilates Defined is a pilates studio located in West Hartford. The studio offers both mat pilates and equipment classes. Group and private training are both available. A class schedule is available online. For further inquiries, call Pilates Defined directly.
This is the local office for the international YMCA. The office doesn't have facilities of its own but registers users for classes and programs at locations around town. Services include health and fitness, sports, aquatics, child care, summer camps and arts programs.
Hartford Tennis Club is a private facility featuring 12 Har-Tru Courts. Its family, adult and junior members "enjoy club tournaments, social events and lessons in a beautiful tree-lined setting." The Hartford Tennis Club opened in 1937. It is located just west of Bishop's Corner.
Play It Again Sports is located in the lively West Hartford Center and specializes in buying, selling and trading new and used sports and fitness equipment. You can sell your old equipment for cash or trade or upgrade to something else. There's equipment for nearly every sport, including football, baseball, softball, hockey and lacrosse. The shop also provides an incredible variety of services including skate sharpening, ski/snowboard tuning, ski/snowboard/cross country mounting, regripping golf clubs/tennis rackets and more.
Jessica Lengenfelder and her husband have owned West Hartford's Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchise for over 9 years, but the business has been in the Elmwood section for nearly 20 years and in West Hartford for over 4o years. They teach ballroom dance, swing and Latin to adult dancers of all levels, and have competitive and non-competitive programs. A partner is not necessary to enroll. Social dances every Friday night are a hit with the community.
Yin Yang Taijiquan Academy is a full time Tai Chi school in West Hartford, owned and operated by Master Guangzhi Xing. Students may learn authentic Chen, Yang and Sun Style Tai Chi. Yin Yang Taijiquan Academy was rated "Best Martial Arts School" by Hartford Advocate's annual poll. To learn further about instruction and registration, visit the provided website.
Wow-Work OUT World opened in West Hartford in 1997. It offers group fitness and spinning classes. It has two large cardiovascular areas with the "latest state-of-the-art equipment." In addition it offers tanning and personal training. Some of the classes include; Zumba, Upper Body Sculpt, Bootcamp, Yoga, and Kickboxing. This facility is managed by Lou Soteriou.
Veterans Memorial Ice Rink is located across from the Cornerstone Aquatics Center. It offers public skate sessions, hosts the West Hartford Youth Hockey League, West Hartford Figure Skating Club and much more. It has "more public sessions than anyone in the area." They are sponsored by six local busineses. They also provide rental skates.
