{"id":2244,"date":"2012-08-14T01:05:14","date_gmt":"2012-08-14T01:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=2244"},"modified":"2012-08-30T00:45:39","modified_gmt":"2012-08-30T00:45:39","slug":"buy-local-never-too-old-find-your-inner-monkey-at-the-athletic-playground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=2244","title":{"rendered":"Buy Local: Never Too Old! Find Your Inner Monkey at The Athletic PlayGround"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u201cI thought maybe I could get a little fitter, and do some cartwheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

These were the modest ambitions of Zach Fischer, 27, when he joined Athletic PlayGround in Emeryville a few years ago.\u00a0 But Fischer shocked himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do a backflip now. And that is something I never thought I could do. I thought I\u2019d missed my window of possibility long ago, when I was a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fischer has even started teaching an acrobatics class at Athletic PlayGround.<\/p>\n

Athletic PlayGround draws its inspiration from the circus, and provides a place where people discover \u201cthey can do things they never thought they could do,\u201d says David Grace, who started Athletic PlayGround in 2008 with Shira Yaziv. And like the circus, the atmosphere is playful, high energy, and, well, alittle wacky. One member often dances around the gym between rigorous sets of strength and balance exercise. Two others always appear with colorful, mismatched striped socks. And there are monkeys everywhere \u2013 monkey toys, monkey murals, and humans doing monkey-like things.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cMonkeys are very strong \u2026 and very playful!,\u201d says Grace, adding that the gym offers Monkey Conditioning classes every day of the week.<\/p>\n

In addition to weekly classes, Athletic PlayGround offers specialized workshops every month, including in Acrobatics, AcroBalance, Acroyoga, Aerials (fabric and trapeze), Breakdance\/Hip-Hop, Flexibility, Handstands, Hooping, Partner Flips, Parkour, and Monkey Conditioning. Each day\u2019s schedule includes periods of \u201cOpen Play\u201d which allow for a diverse range of activity. Non-member drop-ins are welcome at most classes.<\/p>\n

Rachel Baker joined because she \u201cfell in love with the idea of creating a safe place for adults to come and play, harnessing their childlike energy, freedom, and happiness through movement with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now she teaches three classes, including Monkey Conditioning. Her class includes an array of \u201ccritter\u201d movements: \u201cbear, elephant, bunny, froggie, inchworm, chicken, crab, badger, cat, waterbug and more.\u201d There\u2019s also \u201cregular chicken\u201d and, not for the faint of heart, \u201chungry, super-sexy chicken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Longtime member Ben Williams comes regularly during Open Play periods, training on hand balancing, handstand presses, and gymnastics strength skills. He loves the camaraderie, and values sharing the space with others who are training on a variety of “bodyweight skills” like breakdancing, tumbling, or working on aerial silks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cI get energy from being around these people\u2014people exploring movement authentically,\u201d Williams says. Although his \u201cNever Thought I Could Do It\u201d list is impressive (a one-minute handstand, aerial cartwheel, back handspring – all after the age of 36), he notes that Athletic PlayGround \u201cisn\u2019t intimidating like some other places. It\u2019s not hard-core. During \u2018Open Play\u2019 or Acrobatics class, you\u2019re going to get instruction that\u2019s geared towards success. If you just want to do a somersault, that\u2019s great; if you want to learn straddle-press to handstand or back tuck, you can learn that too. There\u2019s something for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to offering classes and workshops, Athletic PlayGround hosts free “Park Days” for the community to come together to play and eat outside, as well as occasional PlayGround Parties with dancing, open play, and performances put on by members and teachers. For children and teens, there are afterschool classes and summer camps.<\/p>\n

Athletic PlayGround is located at 4770 San Pablo Ave (at 48th Street) Suite E, Emeryville, CA 94608.<\/p>\n

For more information, go to www.athleticplayground.com<\/span> , join Athletic PlayGround on facebook<\/a>, or call (510) 355-1626<\/span>. Check out some of the action on YouTube:<\/p>\n

Aerials<\/a><\/p>\n

Hooping <\/a><\/p>\n

Parkour <\/a><\/p>\n

Handstands <\/a><\/p>\n

Monkey Conditioning <\/a><\/p>\n

Zach Pine<\/strong> likes his whole-body workouts at Athletic Playground– smile muscles included. He also organizes a weekly informal contact improvisation jam during Open Play time at the Playground. Zach lives in Berkeley.<\/em><\/p>\n

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