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April brings many things! Look inside to learn more! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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In this issue: National Walking Day C25K Walking Program & Central Iowa Heart Walk Parkinson’s Month & Parkinson’s Exercise Class Free Articles and Videos Soft Trail Stroll Schedule About Me
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More than a decade ago, the American Heart Association started National Walking Day, which falls on the first Wednesday in April. This year, National Walking Day is April 2. |
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The best way to observe National Walking Day is to go for a walk! For extra fun, share pictures of your walk on social media using the hashtag #WalkingDay. On Facebook you can tag @AmericanHeart, and on Instagram tag @American_Heart. If you want, you can tag me, too: @katherineroccaseccacpt. I would love to see your walk!
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C25K Walking Program & Central Iowa Heart Walk
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Walking helps lead to a longer, healthier life. Walking in the 2025 Central Iowa Heart Walk raises money to fund research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives. Sometimes we all need a little extra help or encouragement, so I put together a group of folks to support each other as we use my Couch to 5K Plan to prepare for the 2025 Central Iowa Heart Walk. Each of us is starting from a different place on the path from couch to 5K, but we will reach the goal together. We are walking together for our health, and also for the health of everyone in our families and communities. Will you help? Please make a donation today! Do you want to walk with us at the event? Join our team!
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Parkinson’s Month & Parkinson’s Exercise Class
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April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) will run a month-long “Did You Know?” campaign to educate the public about Parkinson’s disease. Look for the #DidYouKnow hashtag on social media.
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Did you know exercise plays a critical role in managing Parkinson’s disease? Did you know the APDA Iowa Chapter funds exercise classes for people with Parkinson’s? Visit the APDA website to learn more and to register. I particularly recommend the Friday class in Pleasant Hill—that’s the one I teach! |
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I maintain a website with free fitness-related articles and videos for you. Here are some of my latest additions… Last year I wondered just how many yoga in the park offerings there are in central Iowa. Once I had the list, I shared it. Now I have updated it for 2025! I have added to my stretching resources with an article on how to use a multi-grip exercise strap. It even includes exercise demo videos to help you! If you are going to be doing yoga, walking, biking or any activity outdoors this summer, you’ll want to keep your water cold. So I have added an article I wrote some years ago: Do Insulated Water Bottles Make a Difference? And, inspired by “April showers bring May flowers,” I plan to publish a few new articles this month to keep you hydrated and help you bloom. Keep an eye out for those!
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Summer is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy yoga in the park. Many communities offer a yoga in the park program. Check this schedule to find one near you. |
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A multi-grip exercise strap, also known as a multi-grip stretch strap or stretch strap with loops, is an excellent tool for stretching and flexibility. |
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There are standard water bottles, and then there are insulated water bottles. But, do insulated water bottles make a difference? Are they worth it? One hot sunny day in Iowa, Kyle’s Bikes set out to answer that question. |
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Soft Trail Stroll is a series of free walks designed to help people looking for a simple way to become more active, and to increase appreciation of our local soft trails. Our walks are typically 1.5 to 2.5 miles long. We always set a pace that accommodates everyone present. It’s a stroll! No one is left behind. Details for each route are available by clicking the graphics below. If you are on Facebook, join the conversation in our Soft Trail Stroll Facebook group! This group is useful for discussing the weather forecast and meeting locations. After each stroll, it’s a good place to continue conversations and share photos.
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Tuesday, April 1, 2025Grandview Loop Extended
2.0 miles
Grandview Park, 10:00 a.m. |
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Saturday, April 12, 2025Banner Coal Miner’s Daughter Blue
2.7 miles
Banner Lakes at Summerset, 10:00 a.m. |
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Tuesday, April 22, 2025Southwoods Clockwise Doubleback
1.5 miles
Southwoods Park, 10:00 a.m. |
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Tuesday, April 29, 2025Ewing Park Lilacs
2.0 miles
Ewing Park, 10:00 a.m. |
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025Denman Woods Inner Loop
2.5 miles
North Valley Drive Bridge, 10:00 a.m. |
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I'm Katherine Roccasecca—a quilter, a mountain biker, and a certified personal trainer. I help “adults who are old enough to know they aren't getting any younger” to get stronger, stay healthier, and live longer. |
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Whether you are 55… 75… 30… or any age, you've probably noticed that some things aren't as easy as they used to be. That might be climbing the stairs, putting the heavy platter in the top cupboard, or riding your bike all day. I can design a program for you that takes into account what you do and improves what you need, so you can succeed at what you want to do.
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