Keep Moving: Staying active in the winter

While winter may have finally started, there are still a variety of opportunities in the community to keep bodies moving and staying active. Ranging from indoor to outdoor activities, for all skill levels and ages, the Worland and Ten Sleep communities have found ways to connect with one another regardless of the season.

COMMUNITY CENTER

The Worland Community Center, run by director Steve Hunt, has endless opportunities for involvement, and sees people ranging from youth to seniors. The community center and its activities, which are available to people free of charge, has two gyms where people can participate in soccer, basketball, pickleball and other sports.

Pickleball is one of the most accessible and popular sports that is offered at the community center. From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, a group of frequent pickleball players can be found, always welcoming new players. Hunt said, "There are already nets and balls there for the players, and there is always someone there willing to share a paddle," for people who are entering the sport and don't have equipment yet.

Adult soccer is another sport that anyone can participate in, said Hunt. What started as soccer geared toward high school-age people, evolved into a chance for all people to join in and play, said Hunt. Adult soccer is held Wednesday evenings from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m.

For those that are looking to try out other sports, the center's open gym hours are a great chance for anyone to have an open space for activities such as volleyball, basketball and more. Hunt emphasized that open gym time during after school hours is also a safe space where middle school- and high school- age students tend to hang out, while still under some supervision. The community center has a variety of open gym hours during everyday of operation.

Another popular pastime at the community center is walking, whether it is around the building or in the gym. According to Hunt, people go to the community center for a safe, warm space to walk and make laps. People are most often there in the early mornings, from 6 to 10 a.m., but can come anytime during operating hours. This opportunity to walk becomes increasingly popular during winter, said Hunt. Like all other activities at the center, participation in walking around the center comes at no cost.

Hunt noted that the community center recently launched a new website, worlandcommunitycenter-rec.org, which will be a good way to stay updated on activities and schedules. The Worland Community Center is also active on Facebook as another way to keep people updated.

AQUATIC CENTER

Another great indoor option for recreation is the Worland Aquatic Center. Featuring multiple pools, a water slide, water aerobic classes and more, the aquatic center provides the community with a unique variety of opportunities to stay active. Worland Aquatic Center Director David Villa said, "From therapy, to lessons, to leisure, all that stuff is open to the public."

Aside from a competitive lap pool and a shallow activities pool that are open to the public, the center also has a therapy pool. This pool, which must be reserved in advance with no extra charge, features a pool chair lift and water weights that people can use. Aquatics Supervisor Amy Vega said the therapy pool is ideal for, "anyone that would like to stretch out any broken/sprained/weakened body parts."

The center's courses and amenities include water aerobics that is offered every weekday morning, paddleboards that can be rented and used in the pools on Saturdays, in-pool basketball hoops and a volleyball net and yoga mats.

The aquatic center additionally recently started allowing for deck walking anytime during operating hours. According to Villa, people typically walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday early mornings while other activities in the center aren't occurring at the same time. He added that people should try to wear clean shoes while deck walking. Vega noted that 10.5 laps around the pool is equivalent to one mile.

Villa said that this provides people with an opportunity to walk around the pool in a warmer climate and is currently offered to all without a fee. Deck walking is new to the aquatic center and is subject to change as interest grows. For now, "It's just another resource for the community," said Villa.

To stay updated on activities and events happening at the Worland Aquatic Center, people can check out the Worland Aquatic Center Facebook page or website at worlandaquaticcenter.org.

YOGA

A slower paced but still great form of exercise is yoga, which is offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the day at Cloud Peak Chiropractic and Wellness in Worland.

Yoga instructor, Kaitlin Stone, said she began instructing yoga classes in the studio earlier this month after hearing that there was a demand for yoga in Worland but that it was no longer taught anywhere else.

Gentle yoga, which is offered at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and 2 p.m. on Thursdays, is "geared for people who have maybe never done yoga before, or for people who have mobility issues. It's a lot slower paced, we hold the poses for longer, and we use more modifications, like blocks or straps to get into and out of the poses," said Stone.

Flow yoga, offered on Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m., Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6 a.m., is more closely aligned with what people envision yoga to be, said Stone. "It's a little more fast paced, and the poses can be taken in a more challenging way but in my style – I always teach at multiple levels so really anyone can take either class," said Stone.

"I know that some people think that they can't do yoga, but that's one of the reasons I became a teacher [...] it's incredible what your body can do when you give it a chance," said Stone, who also felt like yoga wasn't for her until she gave it a try and is now teaching it. "Yoga is truly for any body. There are modifications we can make for any level of ability," she said.

"The mental health benefits are out of this world. It's not just a fitness practice," said Stone. While yoga can improve flexibility and balance, Stone said, "yoga is increasingly used as treatment for folks with PTSD and other chronic mental health issues [...] it can help people reconnect to their bodies in a really healthy and positive way."

"All of this amazing research is coming out about how it can help different people, so it feels like an exciting time to be a part of it," said Stone.

In addition to yoga at Cloud Peak Chiropractic & Wellness, Valarie Anderson is offering yoga classes at the Ten Sleep Community Center on Thursdays, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

WINTER RECREATION

For those who are looking to head outside, Tensleep Nowood Trailbreakers President CJ Grimes, said, "I think that being outdoors in the fresh air and in the sunshine, which we kind of have a lot of in the Basin, is healthy for just about everybody."

According to their website and Grimes, TNT works to, "Develop, enhance and maintain trails that are fun to ride, ski or hike; and encourage responsible use, personal wellbeing and economic benefit in Washakie County, Wyoming." Once people get outside and try new activities for the first time, Grimes said he finds that the fun is contagious.

TNT's main winter recreation event is the annual Sweet 16 SnowFest on March 16 and 17. On Saturday, March 16 at Willow Park, attendees can cross-county ski, snowshoe, and enjoy chili provided by TNT. On Sunday, March 17 at Meadowlark Ski Lodge, TNT will host their "Vertical Challenge," which is a competition to see which participants can ski the most runs in a day.

To prepare for Snowfest, Willow Park is a popular spot for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking, and is located 16 miles east of Ten Sleep between Deer Haven Lodge and Meadowlark Ski Lodge. Trails at the park are maintained and groomed by TNT. Willow Park also has a fire pit and benches for those who need a chance to warm up during the day.

"Willow Park is so nice, and it's really not that far off the highway," said owner of Larsen's Bicycles, Lisa Weamer. "It's like you're in a different world out there, and it's so peaceful," she said. Weamer added that Willow Park has trails for people of all skill levels and are rated from easy to difficult.

Another ski opportunity highlighted by Grimes is Powder Pass #449. "It's really a cool spot, and I don't think a lot of people either know about it or really take advantage of it," said Grimes.

According to the Powder Pass Nordic Club website, the Powder Pass #449, located 33 miles west of Buffalo on Highway 16, is a nonmotorized, non-groomed area that provides people with the opportunity for a backcountry experience, allowing for skiing, snowshoers and more.

During particularly snowy winters and the right conditions, Grimes said the Green Hills Golf Course in Worland is groomed for cross-country skiing and provides opportunities for snowshoeing and fat biking as well.

Grimes added that the Ten Sleep ice rink and warming hut have been in operation and that new skates have been acquired. The skates are free to use with a suggested donation, and can be used from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

TNT is open for the public to join at any level of participation that people would like, said Grimes. People can help TNT organize events or can help on a board level. Grimes added that the group is looking to fill a secretary position.

Grimes said that the Tensleep Nowood Trailbreakers are active on Facebook and Instagram, where they provide information about trail conditions and events. TNT can also be found online at sites.google.com/tntrailbreakers.org/tnt/home.

SKI & SNOWSHOE RENTALS

Weamer at Larsen's Bicycles in Worland has winter equipment for both rent and purchase for those who are looking to get into a new sport. The shop features cross-county skis, snowshoes, snowboards and fat bikes.

Available to rent are set ups for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, which Weamer said are both beginner friendly forms of winter recreation. People should try to reserve skis earlier than later, as she does run out of common sizes on busy weekends, she said.

"They're great ways to get out and experience our winters," said Weamer.

Weamer also has fat bikes for sale, which are a type of bike that can be used on snow and other terrains that typical bikes would not be able to go onto. Weamer noted that fat bikes are particularly stable and fun to ride on. Fat bikes can be taken on the golf course or at Willow Park, but bikers should avoid riding directly on groomed ski trails.

"It's exhilarating," said Weamer about getting the chance to recreate in local areas. Weamer encourages people to bundle up, grab some skis and head outside to enjoy what winter has to offer.