Frederick County and the surrounding area is a great place to live well. We rank in the top 5 healthiest counties in Maryland according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. This is because of all the amazing options here we get to take advantage of to live our healthiest life.
You’ll find all kinds of resources here from unique workouts to healthy food to the best outdoor spots to sweat.
Players Fitness & Performance (PFP) has two locations and combines performance training with mindset coaching to help athletes with their physical game as well as their mental game. Each client receives a fully customized training plan that maximizes the results they’re looking for. Programs include speed, agility, strength, and endurance training, as well as injury prevention to build athleticism and self confidence.
PFP’s Winning Athlete Formula builds confident, capable athletes on and off the field. The knowledgeable coaches work to make the program an enjoyable training experience that helps athletes improve their game, and overcome and avoid performance anxiety and burnout.
PFP works with youth athletes aged 6-18 as well as collegiate athletes. They also offer programming for adults to optimize general fitness. There are three different training options including group sessions that are customized to your needs but cost less than typical personal training.
With more than 200 class times available to accommodate busy schedules, no contracts to sign, and a positive, supportive community to help you stay accountable, PFP is an ideal environment to reach your goals, on the athletic field, and off.
Located at 3280 Urbana Pike, the Frederick Holistic Wellness Center provides sports medicine acupuncture, nutrition coaching, and Qi Gong instruction. These services help promote natural healing without pharmaceuticals for a variety of ailments, including injuries, arthritis, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, and anxiety.
Promote and restore your body’s balance of energy with acupuncture designed to open painful and injured areas for healing. Sports medicine acupuncture can help manage and heal things like shoulder pain, knee pain, sprained ankles, tennis elbow, and low back pain. Get back to sports and physical activity faster with this treatment modality added to your routine.
Pat Thompson has a degree in exercise science, is a certified nutrition coach, and a licensed acupuncturist with a certification in sports medicine acupuncture so he knows his stuff and he takes the time to answer questions and educate his clients. Expect your first visit to be between 30 and 90 minutes and include a health history, physical exam, and treatment plan. Acupuncture is not a quick fix and while many people feel relief right away, multiple treatments may be needed or useful for your particular situation.
Pat’s nutrition coaching is not a meal plan. He helps you develop healthy habits and reach your goals with in-person and online support for the reality of hectic schedules and daily life obstacles. He’ll help you find what works for you and help you get results.
Qi Gong is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that involves synchronizing slow, mindful movement with the breath. This promotes relaxation, improved energy, and overall health.
Frederick Holistic Wellness accepts CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Aetna insurance and you can request a free consultation right on the website. They also offer a free digital newsletter and have hours available Monday through Saturday.
Frederic Holistic Wellness hosts a healthy happy hour the first Friday of every month from 4-7pm. This is your chance to try acupuncture and destress after a long week. 20 minutes for $20.
The national chain, Anytime Fitness, currently has four locations in Frederick, Whittier, Ballenger Creek, Spring Ridge, and Thurmont. The gyms are open 24 hours so you can fit your workout in whenever you need to. However, they are not staffed all 24 hours so if you need assistance or need to meet with a trainer, check the staffed hours first. You can go to all Anytime Fitness locations with your membership so it’s convenient when you travel, even internationally! Memberships start at $50 per month.
You can access small-group training, team workouts, one-on-one personal training if you want guided support for your workouts. You can get free fitness consultations, body composition scanning and wellness programs. There’s even an Anytime Fitness app that you can use to access personalized workouts, schedules, and community boards.
In addition to personal and small-group training, you can attend Spinning, Zumba, body conditioning, and yoga classes. Each location has their own schedule so be sure to check class days and times before you go.
Anytime Fitness also has all the usual equipment that you would see in a fitness center. Treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, bicycles, free weights, power racks, kettlebells, battle ropes, lateral trainers. and adaptive motion trainers which are cardio machines that adapt to the users needs rather than the other way around.
These gyms are very inclusive and offer something for everyone no matter what your personal needs and goals are. They are clean and have a nice aesthetic. The Whittier location has a beautiful view of the lake while you’re doing your cardio too! Check out these great gyms!
If you’re interested in trying a unique and challenging workout, you have to visit The Boulder Yard, Frederick’s only rock climbing gym. Located at 5714 Industry Lane in an unassuming little storefront…like, you’ll probably miss it if you’re not looking for it, The Boulder Yard has 3,000 square feet of climbing surface with various overhangs. This is a bouldering facility which means that no ropes or harnesses are necessary but there are super thick, soft crash pads to land on if you fall or jump.
The climbing sets are changed frequently so there’s always something new to challenge you. The gym also includes a weight room, yoga classes, private lessons, coaching and youth programs.
Speaking of kids, The Boulder Yard is very kid friendly so it’s an opportunity to introduce your kids to a new activity. The staff are happy to help beginners of any age get started and their passion and enthusiasm for climbing is evident in their interactions with patrons. My own kids have been to The Boulder Yard many times and the staff is always willing to show them new climbs and challenge them to try new things and go a little higher or further. They also offer a youth climbing team for ages 6-18 and summer camps for ages 5-14.
Shoe rental is $5 and climbing shoes are the only specialized equipment you need. Otherwise, just come dressed in your regular workout clothes.
A day pass is $20 and lets you climb all day and have access to the weight room, yoga and group fitness classes.
A ten-punch pass is $150
Memberships start at $75 per month and include unlimited climbing and weight room access. Add-on options can include additional family members and services.
The Boulder Yard can host corporate and team events or birthday parties and also offer private coaching.
The Boulder Yard is a challenging fitness experience in a friendly and knowledgeable atmosphere. Check them out! There are specific COVID-19 guidelines in place so as always, check the website or call 301-228-9368 before going.
Every third Thursday of the month starting April 18th from 6-8pm. Join the group run at Charm City Run Frederick and run 3-4 miles ending at Attaboy Beer. The run is very casual and all paces and abilities are welcome and then you can relax and enjoy a beer or two after your run. Sounds like a great way to cool down and enjoy some social time! Remember to bring a valid ID. This is a free event and you can click here for more information or to register.
Help kickoff the Coloring the Street Festival with a free yoga event on West Green St. in Middletown. Saturday, April 27th from 10-10:30am. This yoga practice is accessible for everyone so bring the whole family. It’s a free event but pre-registration is recommended to reserve your yoga mat space. Click here to register.
Frederick County is home to 1300 different farms and over 100,000 acres of productive farmland. Agriculture is the oldest industry in the county and we do it well! Everything from grass-fed meats, cheeses, organic produce, honey, wine and spirits and even dog treats. There are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of fresh, healthy foods from CSA programs and local farmers markets. Not to mention that Frederick County is also a hotbed for quality craft artisans that are featured at said markets.
There are lots of markets in Frederick but here are 5 to start with this spring. Many of these market vendors are local and produce their own products. Some markets include food trucks or live entertainment so you can grab lunch or dinner and enjoy a show while shopping.
Floating in a tank of water. Naked. In the Dark.
It sounds a little crazy but it can be the most relaxing thing in the world!
Floatation therapy is the process of floating in a sensory deprivation tank full of body temperature water with hundreds of pounds of salt dissolved in it. The tank is dark and quiet but you can have music playing if you want to. With no sensory input, not even gravity, you are able to fully relax your mind and body more deeply than other types of relaxation techniques.
Floating allows you to really get away and have some me time. You’re completely alone in the tank where you won’t be interrupted by emails or texts or kids or work. It helps relieve stress and anxiety, muscle pain and fatigue, joint pain and inflammation. It can slow your heart rate, help you sleep better and relieve headaches.
Light Side Floats, located at 8420 Gas House Pike, Suite D, is a beautiful, welcoming environment. Don’t worry if you’re a first time floater, the staff will walk you through every step of the process so you feel completely comfortable. You can book your appointment right on the website for convenience and there’s even a short video on their website to help you through the first time before you get there.
Staff can control the lights in your room from the outside so they never have to enter your room and your privacy is maintained. Turning your lights on is how they indicate that your time is up. When you’re finished with your float, enjoy a shower with unscented, organic shampoo and body wash provided right in your float room. You then have access to a grooming room where you can fix your hair or makeup. You can also relax in the Whisper Lounge with a cup of tea in a cushy chair to enjoy your post-float relaxation and gradually get back to the world. You can take as much time as you need. The staff won’t hustle you out the door.
Light Side Floats also offers hydro massage and infrared saunas as separate options or part of a float package to round out and optimize your relaxation. If you plan to float regularly, join the Float Club for added benefits and discounts. Check them out today!
If you’re a runner in Frederick then you need to check out the Steeplechasers!
The Frederick Steeplechasers Running club is a diverse group of hundreds of people that spearheads an active running scene in the Frederick area and supports runners of all fitness levels, paces and experiences. And they have a cool name too! Steeplechasers is a play on words and relates to Frederick’s “clustered spires.”
Joining a running club gives you the chance to socialize and make friends with like-minded people that give you a built in fan club when you run local races. They can motivate you to try new things in your training and racing and keep you accountable.
For $20.00 a year, Steeplechasers members have access to group runs, social events, free training programs, discount codes for local races, group competitions, and lots of volunteer opportunities. As a member, you would also benefit from education nights which are presentations by experts and professionals on a wide range of topics related to running. The Steeplechasers are the Frederick affiliate of the Road Runner’s Club of America which offers even more resources and a nationwide network of like minded runners.
Steeplechasers Signature Races such as the Market Street Mile and the Summer Solstice 8k are held throughout the year and raise thousands of dollars for charitable causes.
You can even make running a family affair with the Steeplechasers Spires Youth Running Program. This program promotes the benefits of running over performance and competition and is open to kids ages 7-14.
The Steeplechasers members engage in all types of running, including road, trail, ultra and track and they always welcome out of town visitors on their group runs. Check them out!
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