Today, Parks Deputy Commissioner for Public Programs Kevin Jeffrey joined Harlem Hospital Executive Director, Dr. John Palmer; Shape Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Valerie Latona; Chief Service Officer, Diahann Billings-Burford; Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Assistant Commissioner of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Lynn Silver; and the National Director of Group Fitness for Equinox Fitness Clubs, Carol Espel to launch a new partnership with Shape Magazine offering nutrition seminars to Shape Up NYC participants. A Shape Up NYC fitness class led by Equinox instructors will precede the speaking program, and a special preview seminar "Eating to Beat Diabetes" will follow.
"We are thrilled to partner with Shape Magazine to include nutrition seminars in the Shape Up NYC free fitness program," said Commissioner Benepe. "Making informed choices about the foods you eat is just as important as getting in a daily workout, and I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of this opportunity to increase their fitness IQ!"
"As the leading active lifestyle publication for women, at Shape, we feel that we have a responsibility to give back to women in the community. We are very excited to be a part of the Shape Up NYC program, which gives us the opportunity to bring our award winning editorial content to life," said Valerie Latona, Editor-in-Chief of Shape Magazine.
Starting this fall, Shape Magazine's expert nutritionists will teach month-long seminars at 12 locations throughout the city, on topics ranging from "How to Break Up with Your Salt Shaker," to "Learn to Love Fruits & Veggies". The seminars, held before and after Shape Up NYC fitness classes, will engage participants, taking them to green markets and community gardens to learn about selecting healthy, budget conscious meals and teaching participants how to prepare those foods in the kitchen.
Shape Up NYC is a free citywide fitness program launched in June of 2004 through a partnership between Parks and DOHMH that targets neighborhoods with high rates of obesity and obesity related disease. Thanks to a major partnership with NYC Service and Equinox, this season Shape Up NYC expanded to offer more than 175 free fitness classes every week at 42 locations across the five boroughs, including parks, recreation centers, housing and health facilities, schools and community centers. Since launching this major expansion with Equinox and NYC Service in May, the Shape Up NYC program has reached over 30,000 New Yorkers.
Shape Up NYC participants were on hand, including Jasintha Larson, who said, "I have been attending classes since 2008. I have been exercising in chair aerobics and chair toning classes at St.Mary's Park and Recreation Center. These classes have made me more flexible and have increased my stamina. I have also learned to modify the exercise to fit my abilities. So far, I have lost 10 pounds and have been able to keep it off, thanks to the instructor Kim Carr and the ShapeUp program!"
