Hey Des Plaines! For our next installment of Doing it up in Des Plaines I headed over to the Des Plaines Park District Prairie Lakes Fitness Center, 515 E. Thacker St., for a Saturday afternoon Stretch and Strength class.

The Fitness Center offers a variety of classes and programs aimed at all fitness levels. Besides Stretch and Strength, they also offer yoga, Pilates, martial arts, Zumba, step classes, one-on-one personal training, Irish Dancing and even a Bollywood inspired dance class, among many others. All fitness and dance classes are taught by professionals and like all programs, are available to residents and non-residents alike. 

Stretch and Strength incorporates a yoga warm-up, followed by a cardio segment and closes with toning exercises for abs, arms and legs to make for a total body workout. Instructor Cecilia Ferguson-Bell offers modified options for most exercises to ensure that all can participate, regardless of fitness level.

She also kept the class so upbeat that she tricked me into forgetting that I was working out (well except during the push-ups).

I had to laugh at myself a few times as I looked around the room during the yoga warm-up and saw women older than me and some children whose flexibility and agility were knocking me out of the park, but I never felt awkward. After all, everyone was there for the same reason and I can't think of too many people who look gorgeous while they're working out...except for maybe Gisele Bundchen...she probably does.

P.S. Special thanks to videographer Courtney Boyers for that close-up shot of me hopping around during the cardio segment. I really appreciate it.