December just might be the most beautiful month around the Fitness Club. The weather is lovely, and our seasonal friends are back in town, enjoying our courts, classes, pool, and club facilities.
CLUB HOURS AND ACCESS
• Front Desk Hours:
• Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed
• Club Access: Use your fob to access the club daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
🎁 THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FITNESS COUNTDOWN
We’re getting healthy and festive, with a fitness club-related thought for each day.
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: Going to the Beat of Your Own Drummer
Remember when seat belts weren’t required and your parents held their arms out to keep you from hitting the dash? We’ve lived through lots of change and challenges.
We can all get a little lazy with our thoughts while warming up or doing reps. Take a moment to look at not just what you’re doing, but the intention behind it. Consider this time an invitation to dial it in.
11. Eleven Pipers Piping: Reveille for the Morning
Who could sleep through the bright, rousing tones of Reveille? While I suspect a lot of you didn’t always appreciate early mornings, like me, but we certainly do now with these glorious surroundings! Some mornings, I play a little Reveille in my head, take some deep breaths, and wrap myself up in the blessings of the day. Be thoughtful and thankful from the moment you first greet the day.
10. Ten Lords a-Leaping: The Benefits of Jumping
While often overlooked, jumping has fantastic benefits. No, I’m not suggesting you pull out a pogo stick, but I am encouraging you (after checking with your healthcare provider) to incorporate some low intensity jumping into your day. Jumping charges up your bone-making cells (osteocytes) to keep them strong, builds muscles, increases balance, and improves cardiovascular and joint health. Start with little hops and small jumps, focusing on good form and soft landings. Don’t forget proper footwear!
9. Nine Ladies Dancing: Ladies’ Social
Hey ladies! This one’s for you! This event has been so successful we are keeping it going each first Wednesday of the month. Plan to meet us on December 3rd and connect with other fitness club members. Sign up at the club and meet at 1:15 p.m. at Cass Cay. Dancing is optional but encouraged!
8. Eight Maids-a-Milking: The Scoop on Milk
This got me thinking about milk—not just cow’s milk, but nut and oat milk, too. Which has the most calories? Cow’s milk with 150 calories in a cup of whole milk. Oat milk has 130 calories and nut milks range from 30-160 calories. Cow’s milk is also highest in protein (8 grams per cup), highest in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar (lactose). Oat milk has less protein, fat, and sugar, with nut milk with low amounts of them all.
7. Seven Swans a-Swimming: Our New Pool Upgrade
Our pool area, or our ‘ce-ment pond’ as the Beverly Hillbillies say, is one of the crown jewels in our fitness club crown, with the pool, spa, tables, and lush plantings. Do you know about our new upgrade out there? We have a new, awesome filtered bottle-fill fountain! We have Jim Zachacz and John Rootes to thank. Stay hydrated!
6. Six Geese a-Laying: Avoiding the ‘Duck Egg’
Each goose egg is about as big as three or four chicken eggs. That’s a big egg! It also looks like a big zero: a big nothing in a spot where a score should be. Although usually used in baseball, cricket players in the UK have been using the term ‘duck’s egg’ (meaning zero runs/score) since the 1860s. Try to avoid them in your games and matches this season!
5. Five Golden Rings: A New Prize
While in Athens, Greece, I walked over to the bright marble Panathenaic Stadium. It sits on the site of a 330 B.C. racetrack and, after being rebuilt, hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896. The five Olympic rings shine, representing the five continents and 200 countries who send athletes to compete. There is something invigorating and captivating about watching those top-caliber contenders. The 2026 Winter Games are just a few months away. Even if you’re not planning on competing, maybe it’s time to mix things up and put your eyes on a new prize. Try a new class in the pool, switch up your workouts, or plan ahead so you can walk or bike to the club.
4. Four Calling Birds: Check Out Our Feathered Friends
Birds of all colors, shapes, and sizes call the marina home. From the pelicans, osprey, cormorants, cardinals and woodpeckers, take a moment to not only stop and smell the flowers but take a gander (see what I did there?) into the sky and check out our feathered friends.
3. Three French Hens: Faith, Hope, and Charity
French hens are said to signify faith, hope, and charity. ‘Tis the season to have an open heart and an open mind. Everyone has a cross to bear, and their own ways to cope. Exercise is a great coping mechanism. Exercise lowers stress, helps you sleep better, and is good for your brain and self-esteem.
2. Two Turtle Doves: Love and Devotion
These two birds are said to symbolize love and devotion. While it’s easier to acknowledge our friendships and family relationships, it can be more difficult to really look inward, at ourselves with love and respect. So often we look in the mirror and see faults instead of our strengths. Do yourself a favor and see your beauty and your strength this season.
1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Getting that ‘W’
Apparently, partridges like the ground and aren’t often in trees! But have you heard people talking about an athlete’s successful outing and saying they were ‘in a tree’? Sometimes people just have it all going on, and it’s so fun to see. Why not take a moment to imagine yourself making that shot, reaching that height, and getting that W (win)?
🎾 TENNIS: BURNT STORE MARINA LEAGUE PLAY
More players are joining the seasonal tennis leagues! We have two more teams than last year, with nearly 100 players competing. The season runs through March, with weekly matchups.
There are seven divisions based on skill level: 2.5 (lowest), 3.0, 3.0+, 3.5B, 3.5A, 3.5+, and 4.0.
• Ladies’ Teams: Our seven ladies’ teams are the Drop Shot Sisters, Simply Smashing, Restrung Ladies, Alley Oops, Green Flash, 70+ Gals, and BSM Raquettes. They compete in both the Charlotte County 50+ Tennis League and the Charlotte County Women’s Tennis League. About 60 ladies from our club compete in these leagues against nearly 1,000 area players. A special shout-out: our 3.0 Team WON the 50+ league championships for the past three years!
• Men’s Teams: Our five men’s teams are the Green Hornets, BSM Gold, BSM Blue, Red Barons, and Yellow Jackets and compete in the Peace River Senior Men’s Tennis League. Nearly 40 of our gents compete across ten league divisions (A73, B73, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5). Last year, our A73 team won this league!
