By R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

A CONSORTIUM of concerned business and civic members from the island community have banded together to get Guam healthy.
The Get Healthy Guam Coalition yesterday announced the seventh Get Healthy Guam - Step by Step session. According to coalition representative Renee Veksler in a release, "The Mission of the Get Healthy Guam Coalition is: Encouraging Collaboration to Improve the Health of our Community. The Coalition's primary purpose is to provide prevention, educational, recreational, and intervention activities and support services for youth and adults that foster healthy lifestyle choices."
Veksler noted that the message that the coalition is pushing is critically important - so much so that it is even sanctioned by island insurance companies. "Some insurance companies will reimburse the fees," added Veksler in her release. She added that the coalition is a not-for-profit organization. Partners include Paradise Fitness Center, NuForm, and Innovative Fitness for Women, Fiesta Resort Hotel, The UOG Cooperative Extension, and the Agana Heights Gym through the Mayor's office, the Guam Memorial Hospital, and Instructors of the different offerings.
Registration for the different course offerings takes place from the 18 of January through the end of the month,
Activities at the Agana Heights Gym will set things off in 2007 with a Jump Rope for Fitness Program. Registration opens on January, 18, also, the first day of classes. Veksler explained that the "class provides a great workout, even in the warm up and cool down. "The instructor stresses proper techniques to prevent injuries. This is a fun class for the whole family as individual ropes and long ropes are used and there's stimulating music. If jumping is a problem, the class can be used as an aerobics class."
The course lasts four weeks and is offered once a week for one hour every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. A monthly fee of $10 per person or $30 for a family fee which covers three to five persons. A team rate of 6-10 people costs $50. The class size is expected to 15- 40. Brian Dodge is the instructor is Brian Dodge. Dodge is USA Jump Rope Certified, and is promoting the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart Program. Contact 472-1757 for info.
Next on the agenda is the Nuform, Innovative Fitness for Women, contact 646-3676. Registration is between January 20-27 th. Circuit training and informal nutrition education, this class is offered twice a week. Participants may sample a Pilates class and have water massages.
The program lasts for six-weeks and costs $30 per person. Class size is expected to number between 10-15 women. There are three Tuesday/Thursday class choices available, starting January on 30.Pepe LaFlamme, M.SC <http://M.SC>, CPT and Nuform exercise staff will conduct the classes. The schedule is set at 10-11am, for seniors, 12 –1 pm, for women and a second session from 6 –7 pm for women.
Paradise Fitness Center will also offer its flavor of classes in Dededo. Call 635-2100 to confirm. Registration will take place between January 20-27 th. The Program includes aerobic training with the treadmill, bicycle, and proper usage of strength training equipment, strong nutritional counseling and regular weigh-ins. The program also is expected to run for six weeks and will cost $30/person. Classes will be offered on Saturday mornings from 10-11am and begin on Jan. 27, with instructor Jessica Kadiasang, CPT.
Fiesta Resort Hotel pool will invite guests to party in the water. Registration is on Jan., the the first day of class. "This is a fun social water aerobics class. Learn the moves and practice on your own a few times a week in your local pool or in the nearby ocean," noted organizers. Fiesta's program runs six weeks and also costs $30 per person with classes once a week on Sat. mornings from 10-11am. Co-ed class sizes will run between 10-15 men and women with instructor Denise Reyes, CPT. Call 828-2828.
UOG Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture, Nutrition program starts January 27, call 735-2030 to register. The program will provide hands-on food demonstrations and informal nutritional education. With sponsorship, a certified PE teacher will join the group with physical activities. Topics will include lowering food costs, planning family meals, food safety, and weight control. THE UOG program will encompass 10 hours, is free and geared towards parents with young children who are receiving some type of federal assistance and to children who do not receive federal assistance. The class will meet on Saturdays from 10 am – 12 pm beginning the Jan 27. Class size limited to 25. The instructors hail from the UOG Cooperative Extension, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program.
Lastly, the Pacific Islands Club Tasi Banquet room, will offer Qigong Workshops on Jan. 20th and Feb. 10. Call 488-0607 to register with instructor Lama Tantapa, a Tibetan Shamanic Qigong master. The three-hour Saturday Qigong workshops will be offered on 2 Saturdays from 10am -1pm. The fee is $30 per person per seminar. Maximum number of participants: 40.