Okay, so I admit it.  Every year one of my New Year’s resolutions is always about fitness.  And, if you turn on a TV or read just about any news or gossip publication while in line at the market you will not escape their annual focus on health and fitness.  If it’s January, it must be time to start that exercise routine, loose the holiday pounds or start focusing on healthy eating habits.

For those of you new to Lake Norman or considering relocating here, you will be happy to know that Lake Norman has an incredible variety of fitness facilities, gyms and parks for every level/age and lifestyle.  Even during this crazy arctic cold spell there are plenty of ways to fight going stir-crazy!

Full Service Gyms and Fitness Facilities:

• Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville  (704.716.4000) and Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius (704.716.4400) are truly incredible facilities for the entire family. Part of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte,they offer literally thousands of programs including: Aquatics, Arts and Performing Arts, Child Care (including after school and Day Camp), Fitness and Wellness, Sports and Special Programs and Events.  Now is the time to register for spring sports including soccer, tee-ball, baseball and preschool clinics. The Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville is truly THE place to go and the best news is there is no fee to join and they offer financial assistance for starter memberships!
• Precision Fitness (704.662.8664)  has facilities in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville and Denver which offer Personal Training, Weight-loss/Metabolic Testing/Nutritional Counseling, “Serious training for Serious Athletes”, Corporate Wellness, Massage Therapy and “Look Great at The Lake” Fitness Boot Camp. Check out their “Fit Bitz” Weekly bits on fitness, nutrition and wellness as well.
• Mooresville’s Gold’s Gym (704.664.4022) offers: Aerobics, Childcare, Circuit Training, Dance, Elliptical Trainers, Free Weights, Group Spin Cycling, Kickboxing, Martial Arts, Personal Training, Plate Loaded Machines,
• In Motion Fitness has six locations including Mooresville, Cornelius and Davidson.  they offer one-on-0ne, personal training, Fit Extreme Class, group training, youth programs and sport specific conditioning. (704.895.5000).
• Mooresville’s Rolly Pollies (704.660.8011)
• Curves in Mooresville (704.658.1037)
• Fitness on Demand in Moooresville (704.663.8823)

Pilates:

• Pilates Studio at the Lake  Offering pilates private, semi-private and group sessions as well as programs for athletes and boot camps. The also offer Massage Therapy and Reflexology.   Mooresvilles: (704.664.7448) and Davidson (704.987.8966).

Yoga/Wellness

• Ahlara International Influences for the home-body-mind-spirit-spa is located just off Williamson Rd. at 155 Joe V Knox Avenue in Mooresville.   (704.662.0946).  “Ahlara’s 150o square foot wellness center is the perfect setting for wellness classes, workshops and community events. “  They offer yoga and Tai Chi classes for “gentle flexibility and strengthening for the body as well as workshops that explore spirituality, movement, meditation, growth, abundance and freedom. 

Martial Arts:

• RT Berry School of Taekwon-Do (704.658.0544)

Mobile/In-Home Fitness: 

• Fusion South is a mobile/in-home fitness firm that serves Lake Norman. (303. 908.1993). I met Bobby DeMuro, founder and CEO of Fusion South on Twitter the other day.  He will meet clients at their home, office or park which sounded like a great service to me!

Of course, this list barely scratches the surface of all of the sports, recreation and fitness related activities here in Lake Norman.  But, as long as it stays this cold, these are some great options to help you keep in shape and prepare for your favorite sports!

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Coming from Pasadena CA, home of the Rose Parade, you would think I might know that Charlotte has been hosting the fourth largest Thanksgiving Day Parade in the US since 1947.  I truly don’t know how this exciting annual gathering of both Carolinas that is said to touch up to half a million people from 22 county metro areas escaped my radar screen! 

So, if you are looking for a great way to spend  this Thanksgiving, I would highly recommend that you head to Uptown Charlotte by 10:00am this Thursday, November 26, 2009. 

To learn more about the line-up for the parade and the event sponsors and details, go to: Charlotte’s 2009 Thanksgiving Day Parade or Charlotte’s got a lot.  You can even see the parade route.  They have promised that they will be “marching down Tryon Street rain or shine.

As part of the effort to “greening” the parade, organizers are encouraging folks to take the light rail rather than driving uptown. (Of course, those of us in the Lake Norman area don’t have this option….yet).

Best wishes to you all and I hope everyone of you has a very Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Year calls for new directions so starting this month, BestRealEstateLakeNorman.com will be offering free calendars that you can download to your computer monitor.

Here is a preview of the January 2009 Lake Norman calendar…

You can download and see the full size wallpaper/calendar here

Lake Norman is more than just a beautiful place to live, it’s also a warm, caring community and I’d love to see your photos on some of our upcoming calendars.

Almost anything and everything is welcome including cute pet pics, photos of the Lake Norman area, action shots from sporting events, your artwork or pretty much anything you think would make a beautiful calendar that you’d like to share with our community.

If you’d like to submit a photo, please send it to…

Also, feel free to pass along and share these calendars with your friends and family!