The Eden Prairie News is taking part in some community activities and letting you know how you can do it too in our new series, “Have you tried?” This week we joined the Walking Club offered through the Eden Prairie Senior Center.
What: Walking Club
Who can participate: Anyone can participate in this free, easy-going exercise program. The group meets every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. (in the winter) in Eden Prairie Center in the Sears court (where Santa is at Christmastime). Easiest access is through Sears, or through the main door next to Barnes & Noble. Things get a little more interesting in the summer, when more walkers usually participate and the group takes its walks outdoors, to a different park each week.
Difficulty level: Easy. Learn more by calling the Eden Prairie Senior Center at 952-279-8050 to have information mailed to you. You can also call Nancy Rions at 952-937-2655 for information.
Some highlights:
* Last Wednesday’s group of Wednesday walkers gathered at about 5:30 p.m., waiting until everyone who was expected had arrived. The week before only one brave walker, Phil Dahlen, had braved the sub-zero temperatures to get to the mall to walk. This week there were about a half dozen walkers.
* The group definitely has a system for walking around Eden Prairie Center. They walk around the ground floor, including several of the side hallways, once, then they walk around the second floor once.* It’s a great way to get moving, at your own pace. Members of the Walking Club walk at various speeds and split into groups as necessary. It’s not unheard of for someone to even duck inside a store for a peek.
* After walking, the group joins together again at the food court for some camaraderie and dinner.
* An organizational meeting is set for mid-April where the group will make up a schedule for the summer. One of the most popular destinations for the walking club is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen, which they usually visit once or twice each year.
– Compiled by Karla Wennerstrom
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Do you have any other suggestions for free, easy exercise programs in Eden Prairie? Join the discussion under "forums."