The Vida y Salud program offers a variety of physical, mental and spiritual activities to encourage participants to incorporate nutritional eating habits, regular physical activities and healthy interpersonal relationships into their daily lives.

Our exercise program includes a variety of classes available to our clients who wish to maintain physical fitness and health in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Like the nutritional cooking classes, this program aims to improve the physical health of the participants, and encourages awareness and prevention of health issues such as obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and depression. Participants are charged $20 per month and may attend any of the following classes for that particular month.

Our classes include:

• Zumba: It is a high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow the Zumba participants to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be “Fun and Easy to do” allowing participants to stick to the fitness program and achieve long-term health benefits.

• Hatha Yoga: Intended to maintain the body in its best form by increasing flexibility, alleviating stress and increasing energy. Hatha yoga places emphasis on the alignment of the body to safely achieve maximum benefit from the postures (asanas).

• Belly Dance: This dance form can offer the same health benefits as other types of aerobic exercise.

It can strengthen your cardiovascular system, ward off osteoporosis, and improve your stamina.

• Movement and Meditation class : Provides music from all parts of the world to encourage movements that open energy flow for better health. As a result of attending the one hour sessions participants learn how to use oriental dance (Belly Dance) moves and meditation to:
• burn more calories to manage weight
• reduce mental, emotional and physical stress
• improve cardio vascular health
• lower the risk of osteoporosis and diabetes
• feel more feminine
• body, mind and soul integration

• Cycling: A high-intensity workout that involves using a stationary exercise bicycle in a classroom setting; participants set goals based on their heart rate, which can be measured by hand or using a heart rate monitor, and rides simulate variations in terrain by altering resistance and cadence.

• Kickboxing: A great workout class which combines elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics to provide overall physical conditioning and toning. A way to increase your stamina, flexibility, and strength while listening to great dance music mixes.

• Boot Camp Workout: Efficient because you work your entire body – heart and muscles – by going from one exercise to another with no rest. Involves calisthenics like pushups, jumping jacks, crunches and other body weight exercises . . . the difference lies in the intensity. You work, you sweat, and you burn calories like crazy!

The Nutritional Cooking Classes teach participants to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into their daily lives, such as how to use the food pyramid or how to read nutrition labels, in hopes of increasing the general level of health among their families. Our facilitators, “Promotores”, inform participants about health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. The facilitators also perform a medical evaluation with each participant to determine his or her weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol level, and blood pressure. The medical exam is voluntary.

The course consists of a total of six weeks, including one orientation and classes of cooking and nutrition education. At the end of each class, the participants will be offered the recipes for the meal that they prepared during that session, and will be encouraged to prepare the meal for themselves at home. The students also receive literature describing the aforementioned health issues, additional recipes, and special health brochures. Those participants who attend at least four classes will be eligible to attend the graduation from the program.

Prenatal Classes a six session program based on the March of Dimes Comenzando Bien curriculum, which promotes healthy pregnancies and instills the value of prenatal care.

For more information about the Vida y Salud Programs, please call:

Exercise Program (512) 439-0731

Nutritional Cooking Classes (512) 439-0728

Prenatal Classes (512) 439-0730