AYC Club, which began in May 2021, celebrated its 40th session this August! We’ve had hot days, cold days, and even rainy days, but we’ve been able to continue all the way to this milestone thanks to the participants, our staff, and the instructors who have always supported us. Happy 40th session to AYC Club!
AYC Club was originally created during the stay-at-home period of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, when people’s daily social interactions and activities were restricted, many people - especially our patients and members in the local Japanese community felt lonely, isolated, and concerned about their health due to the lack of opportunities to go outside. Wanting to do something to help, I began hosting online exercising classes. During that time, I felt a strong desire to create a place where people could gather in person, enjoy exercising together and connect with each other with smiles. In 2021, as daily life gradually began returning to normal, we took safety precautions and held the very first AYC Club session.
Over the past four years, there have been moments when I thought it might be easier to switch our sessions to indoors, especially on days with unpredictable weather. But now, I truly feel that there is nothing more special than exercising together in fresh morning air, surrounded by nature and warmed by the sunrise.
When we take deep breaths in a green natural environment and soak in the sunlight, our bodies produce vitamin D, as well as serotonin – often called the “happiness hormone.” Serotonin helps stabilize our mood and reduces feelings of anxiety or irritability. Exposure to the morning sunlight also helps reset our internal body clock. This allows the body to naturally produce melatonin at night, which leads to better quality sleep. As result, growth hormones function more effectively during rest, helping repair the body and supporting a stronger immune system.
In addition, we sometimes practice “earthing,” standing barefoot on the grass to feel the energy of the earth and relax both body and mind. It’s an incredibly refreshing and soothing experience!
Our activities begin with a light warm up exercise, followed by a short lesson on the proper posture and walking form. After that we go on a 30-minute walk. During this walking period, the participants are free to spend it in their own way – whether that means focusing quietly on getting some exercise, enjoying conversations with friends, meeting new people, or discussing health topics with me, our staff, or our instructors. Everyone walks at their own pace and enjoys the time as they like. After this walk, we move on to a 40-minute exercise session based on the monthly theme. So far, we have had yoga, hip hop dance, jazz dance, Zumba, posture walking, karate exercise sessions lead by me, and HIIT program lead by our stretch trainer Hikari.
If you’re someone who wants to sleep in Saturday morning, that’s perfectly fine – but how about joining us just once a month to enjoy a refreshing workout under the morning sun. Our AYC club meets at Brook Run Park, located just a 5-minute drive from our office. The park has a wide-open space with playgrounds, sport facilities, and a community garden, and every Saturday a Farmers Market is also held.
Whether you want to get some fresh air. Take a walk with your dog, enjoy light exercise, or even ask a few health-related questions, anyone is welcome to join. Participation is free. Our exercise programs change, monthly so please check with ANIS or visit our clinic website for the latest details.
AYC Club is aiming for its 100th session and beyond! Come and enjoy exercising with us. Good health starts with a DREAM! We look forward to seeing you there. Yoshiro Yajima Chiropractor
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