Donate

Health & Wellness

Get a Head-Start on Your New Year’s Resolution

Why wait until the New Year to get started on your health and fitness journey? If you plan on making your yearly resolution about getting into shape, let us help you get a head-start on the New-Years-Rush! It’s never too early (or too late) to start working towards your goal.

Instead of hitting the gym floor in January with the rest of the crowd, start in November and familiarize yourself with the equipment, etiquette, and establish your routine. In the WHCA Squash & Fitness Centre, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to take you for a tour of the facility and answer any questions you may have in order to get acquainted with our well-stocked weight room and cardio equipment. They can even introduce you to our great personal trainers who will work with you to establish a workout routine that fits your fitness level and schedule.

Not sure if the weight room is right for you? Consider signing up for one of our group fitness classes! We have some of the best instructors from throughout Calgary leading these programs right here at the WHCA. Variety is the spice of life, so we are always trying out new and exciting programs that can be adjusted for all fitness levels; from brand-new beginner, to the voracious veterans, we always try to have something for everyone. These programs can include anything from spin classes, HIIT, yoga, circuit training, and much more. To see what classes we are currently offering this season, visit westhillhurst.com/fitnessclasses.

Looking for something a little less formal than a group fitness class? Get acquainted with squash and tennis! We have 3 full-size courts for both of these great racquet sports, as well as the trainers and equipment to get you on your way. Both squash and tennis are high-pace, sweat-inducing, high-skill sports that can be taken up by athletes of all skill and fitness levels and can be a great way to stay in shape year-round. Our indoor squash courts will even keep you warm and active in the cold weather months. Courts can be booked in-person, by phone, or even online. Racquet sports are a great way to get in shape while building a skill, and a fun way to meet your New Years resolution goals!

So don’t wait until an arbitrary change of calendar to start your fitness journey. You’ll always wish you had started earlier, so why not start today? Stop by the facility, check out our membership packages, and start on a new path to a happier, healthier you!

We’re Serving Up More Tennis This Summer!

Our courts are open and ready for the spring & summer tennis seasons!

To help our community make the most of the tennis courts (as well as our great summer weather), we are providing tennis lessons & camps for all ages!

Interested in weekly tennis lessons with a certified instructor? Sign up for a weekly lesson for all skill levels, for youths and adults! Starting July 4th, these lessons will teach you how to be a better player while honing your existing tennis skills. Hit the court with confidence with instruction from our fantastic tennis pro Alicia Hampshire and take your game to the next level.

For youths, we’re also offering our week-long tennis summer camps! In July and August, Alicia will be running daytime camps for an hour every day for weeks of July 8th to 12th and August 26th to 30th. These camps are available for youths ages 4 to 13 and are catered to their age group. Make the most of their summer break by learning and excelling at a fun and engaging sport with other kids their age!

Learn more about these programs, as well as tennis memberships at westhillhurst.com/tennis

 

2019 Gardens Update

The 2019 gardening season is upon us at West Hillhurst Community Association! The garden plots along the front of the facility are now available to community members. We opened plot sales up to previous members around mid-March to allow participants to snag their past-plots and maintain their same gardens they had in prior seasons, but we still have many beds available! By purchasing a 2019 garden plot, you will have 24/7 access to your planter and will be able to grow whatever your heart desires (as long as it’s suitable for the weather conditions)! Plots are available for only $40 and are 5.5′ in diameter.

The front of West Hillhurst Community Association has a beautiful patio consisting of garden beds, benches, a library, and a picnic table for community use. Let’s work together, grow together, learn together! We celebrate individuality and inclusiveness with gardeners of all ages. If you love to grow vegetables but don’t know how or have no space, we can help! We also have a full schedule of gardening seminars to help all levels of gardeners.

All participants must sign up for a volunteer position with the gardens in addition to properly maintaining their own plot all season.

To learn more or to get your plot for 2019, visit westhillhurst.com/gardens, call us at 403.283.0464 ext. 6, or stop by the office.

Spring 2019 in the Squash & Fitness Centre

If you want to look your best this summer, the time to start your fitness journey is NOW!

Starting this April at the WHCA Squash & Fitness Centre, you can join some of our best group fitness classes yet. Many of the favourites are making their return this spring, as well as some new additions to the lineup. Register with your WHCA Family Membership and get in on the grind for only $13 per class.

New this spring is Family-Friendly Spin; a day-time spin class that you can bring your kids to! We’ll also be seeing the return of the very popular Tot Yoga as well as the renamed Yoga Strength & Stretch. To see all of the programs this spring, get more information on what’s available, and register online, visit westhillhurst.com/programsadult and find the programs in the table.

There’s no better time to get active than now! Take advantage of our great spring weather to come on down to the Squash & Fitness Centre and get after those summer fitness goals with the help of our Fitness Centre instructors and great programs!

A New Take on Spin at the WHCA

Are you having trouble finding the time to workout and can’t always arrange a babysitter? Well we’ve got you covered! Stop by the WHCA in April and check out our 3-week mini-session of Family-Friendly WHCA Spin!

Bring your kids along with you to this 45-minute instructor-lead spin class on our new top-of-the-line spin bikes. This class will keep your kids occupied while you participate in a sweat-inducing workout that can be tailored to all fitness levels. We’re running this class currently as a mini-session, but depending on the level of interest we receive, we may consider running it year-round! So if you’re interested, come on out!

Family-Friendly Spin runs Tuesday mornings from 9:15 to 10 AM, April 9th until the 23rd. $39 for non-members, only $35.10 with a valid WHCA Family Membership.

To register, visit http://bit.ly/2HnOqw5 or stop by the Squash & Fitness Centre today!

Join Us on Pink Shirt Day 2019

Next Wednesday – February 27th – is Pink Shirt Day!

What is Pink Shirt Day? It’s a national day to support bullying prevention awareness, education, and programs. This years Pink Shirt Day theme is “Choose Kindness.”

If you’d like to join the WHCA in participating in Pink Shirt Day 2019, wear a pink shirt on Wednesday February 27th and join the conversation using the hashtags #ChooseKindness, #PinkShirtDay, #EndBullyingAB, and #StandTogether. Also, make a little extra effort to show some kindness and compassion to those around you! Join us in making this day a special and fun day for the West Hillhurst community!

If you’d like to learn more about Pink Shirt Day 2019 and other ways you can get involved & show your support, visit pinkshirtday.ca

February Health Club Updates

Here’s your brief February update of some of the new additions and changes that have been made to the health club so far in 2019!

First and foremost, due to feedback from health club members, we will be opening the doors half an hour earlier during weekday mornings. This means you will be able to access the health club at 6:30 am instead of 7 am so you’ll have an opportunity to get your workout in to kick off your day! This is why feedback is so important from our members because it allows us to provide you with the services you want and makes us the best Community Association we can be! So thanks to all who spoke up!

There is now Black Knight squash equipment available for purchase/rental in the health club! Equipment includes 3 different racquets, eye guards, grips, wraps, and more! We want the health club to be your one-stop shop for all things squash, and with these new additions, we’re almost there. Stop by the front desk today and check out the new squash display for yourself, there’s some great stuff available.

We are now offering 45-minute squash training sessions for only $5! These group squash clinics are available Tuesday mornings at 9:30 and 10:30 am. Due to the nature of this program, it will have limited spots and it’s strictly first-come first-serve. For $5, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth as you’ll learn skills from our fantastic squash pros, hands-on! Must be a WHCA Member to participate.

Also, don’t forget that throughout 2019, group fitness classes will all have a $13 drop-in fee, no membership required. That means you don’t have to commit, you can bring a friend or family member along, or try something new for just $13! Also, members receive 10% off registration for group fitness classes. Keep these changes in mind and try something new this year!

The WHCA Squash Championship has ONE spot remaining for registration, so we are keeping registration open to give members a chance to fill it! If you or a squash-playing friend doesn’t want to miss their opportunity to be the next Squash Champ, register TODAY and don’t get stuck waiting around until next year!

For more info on the health club throughout 2019, check the health club page, swing by the front desk, follow us on social media, or give us a call!

See you on the court.

Get in Motion with Tot Yoga

Looking to get your toddler, ages 3 to 6, involved in a community driven motion and learning class? Look no further than Tot Yoga at the West Hillhurst Community Association.

This yoga program is composed of a series of classes intended to stimulate and educate your toddler through the practice of yoga. It covers an introduction to the basics of yoga, breathing exercises, and setting intentions aimed to foster community building. These classes are also geared towards empowerment in learning by reaching into the unique learning styles of each and every child through the integration of music, art, science, literacy, and much more!

Enrich your toddler with all the benefits of yoga and more. For more information about this program, call the health club @ 403.283.0464 ext. 1

Register for January Tot Yoga
Register for February Tot Yoga

 

Start Your 2019 Right!

Looking for a fresh start in 2019? Or maybe you finished 2018 in strong spirits and want to carry that momentum with you into the new year? Well, we hear ya!

Nothing encourages well-being and positivity like practicing tai chi! For the new year, we’ve essentially doubled the tai chi offerings available at the WHCA by adding a Wednesday session, beginning January 9th. Our Saturday tai chi is still available and still free for WHCA members, but due to the success and positive feedback we received from this program, we were compelled to start a this second tai chi program for just $4 per session.

Not acquainted with tai chi? No worries! This unique martial art exercises both body and mind through movement and meditation. Our sessions are suitable for both practiced and new participants and can be as challenging as you wish to make it.

So start your 2019 with a healthy body AND mind! Register for our tai chi sessions TODAY: Saturday Tai Chi — Wednesday Tai Chi

 

Neighbourhood Baby Connections 2019

Are you a parent or parental support figure for a baby under 2 years old? Awesome! Let us help you make the most of this time in your lives with “Neighbourhood Baby Connections.”

This new WHCA program is geared towards meeting people in your neighbourhood and making those connections. Its a great way to meet other people with babies who are going through similar experiences, while educational guest speakers will come in to provide the educational/movement part of the class.

This is ideal for newborns and young babies, as well as all parental support (dads. moms, grandparents, sister, caregiver, etc) who are just looking for have fun, take in some quality bonding time, and get to know some of your neighbours!

This program is FREE with a WHCA membership, which you can purchase here. If you have a WHCA membership, you can register for the program here.

Class structure: The first 15 min will allow for baby time to get settled in (feed, change diapers etc). The following 45 mins will be the special guest of the day, it will be either educational or activity based. Followed by 15 min discussion of the day for the parents and for babies to explore and play. The last 15 min will be to mingle and to clean up the space. A week prior to the class start date a list of educational guests will be sent out.

Each week will be different and some of the educational guest could be but not limited to, the list of special guests will be confirmed a week before the class starts:
– Active classes (Parent and Baby Yoga, Baby Barre etc.)
– A visit from our local library
– Dental hygiene for babies
– WHCA preschool
– Post Natal Pelvic Floor & Core Physio
– Baby music and or dance
– Baby massage
– Our local pharmacist to answer Q & A’s

We hope to see you at the next session!