Fit Mommy: Free fitness opportunities at Briarwood Mall

A "walk" down memory lane for me at the Briarwood Mall...

photo by Eva Johnson

I was at Briarwood Mall with another fit mommy, early before the stores opened. We decided to spend the extra minutes with a quick walk. While walking, we noticed a huge group of adults in the Von Maur area of Briarwood. There were tons of chairs and excited participants, ready to get their fitness on for the day! I had to ask the group, "What is this program?"

It turns out that the University of Michigan UMove program offers light aerobics at 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays at Briarwood. It is called Lifetime Fitness, and it is very popular. The participants were glowing about their classes and also glowing that they are free (donations are welcome). These classes are light to moderately intense and probably more geared to seniors, but open to all. Many of the participants do the entire class while seated in a chair, but I did see others standing during the routine as well.

I personally love to see inexpensive, indoor fitness opportunities offered in and around Ann Arbor. Even though I am a personal trainer, I believe that basic fitness should be accessible to everyone.

If you don't have the money to buy a treadmill, our own Briarwood Mall is also a great free place to walk each morning. In fact, back when my kids were little, I used to bring my double stroller to the mall and walk around the corridors, hoping to make it around twice (around two miles) before my kids would protest. To reward my kids, we would stop in and play in the kiddie area a bit, and then move on with our day. I would feel good, knowing that despite having two kids in diapers, I could still fit in some time to burn off calories.

The mall is perfect to walk in for those who don't like to be outside in the harsh Michigan winters and also those who may be worried about falling on uneven sidewalks. In addition, the mall security adds a little bit of peace of mind as well. The mall corridors open around 7 a.m. each morning, but the stores don't open until much later. This allows you to get a walk in without being too tempted to shop!

Yes, it is possible to get a workout without going broke. I would love to hear how you save money on fitness costs as well!

Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who still has fond memories of those mornings at the mall with the double stroller. She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.