Kickboxing at the Asian Arts Center

Kickboxing is becoming an increasingly popular way for women to lose weight and get in shape. Many women are intimidated by the prospect of kickboxing. It seems contrary to what most of us were raised to think is feminine or acceptable. However, it is a powerful tool for getting in shape, maintaining proper health, and gaining confidence. The average kickboxing class is roughly one hour. In that time, you can burn between 500-1,000 calories! When you compare that to the mere 183 calories burned by walking 2 mph for an hour, you can see the difference this complete workout can provide.

Carolyn Zengel leads the kickboxing and fitness classes at the Asian Arts Center. Carolyn is an enthusiastic fitness instructor and has been leading group fitness classes since 1999. She is also a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo and an instructor in basic self-defense. The key to Carolyn’s success in teaching kickboxing is what will also be the key to YOUR success: variety. Every class is different and can be tailored to individual abilities. It can be hard to get motivated to exercise sometimes. When you constantly do the same thing, it is harder to get motivated and you are only working the same parts of the body. Carolyn’s classes are the perfect answer to both of these problems. Her energy is contagious.

Cardio kickboxing workouts combine kicking, punching, and other basic strikes with aerobic movements so that the benefits can be felt and seen throughout the entire body. In addition to being a complete physical workout, kickboxing is a great stress reducer. Aerobic exercise increases the release of endorphins, which are chemicals that reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Most kickboxing sessions also incorporate stretches, which help increase flexibility and relax the muscles. All of our fitness classes, including kickboxing, are available on a drop-in basis for only$10 per class. Package discounts are also available. Visit the Programs tab on this website to see the times and descriptions of all of our fitness classes.

Angel Perkins, Enrollment Specialist

Happier Life

Negativity is by far one of the most debilitating things in the world.  Be it surrounding yourself with negative people, or living a negative life (i.e. not exercising, eating poorly, consuming too much alcohol, etc.), it seems that negativity surrounds us.  Sometimes I feel as if people take their body and trash it; never fully appreciating how incredible our bodies really are and the amazing things that can come from properly taking care of oneself.

Classes at the Asian Arts Center focus on becoming healthier both physically and emotionally.  Through meditation during class and a full body workout, students (regardless of age) become stronger and more focused.    As a mother, I know one of the most amazing gifts I can give to my daughter is to not only ensure she is healthy, but to also ensure I am healthy.  After a long day at work, half the time I dread cooking.  However, I cook her dinner every single night to ensure she is having a well-balanced meal that is not packed with calories and fat.  Since my daughter is too young to start classes here, I always try to make sure she is staying active in some other way.  I cannot wait until she is old enough to start taking classes here, because I know it will only help her become stronger and, more importantly, happier!

We offer a free month of classes and it is the perfect opportunity to see how beneficial classes at the Asian Arts Center will be for you and your family.

Eve Wojtowicz, Enrollment Specialist

Active Children

I am always thinking of new ways to keep my daughter active.  With technology becoming bigger and better and kids preferring to play video games than go outside and play, it seems as if getting our children to be active is very difficult.  It is so much fun to watch classes at the Asian Arts Center, because kids are constantly moving in class.  I have the privilege of watching multiple classes a day at our Centerville location and Mr. Alex is always keeping his students busy and coming up with new Taekwondo activities.  If you are looking for classes that will help strengthen you or your family’s physical and mental health, then the Asian Arts Center is the perfect place for you. We currently are offering a free month trial (8 classes) so you AND/OR your children can come take classes and see what a great fit these classes will be in your life.

Eve Wojtowicz, Enrollment Specialist

AAC Centerville Staff

Stop in to our Centerville location and meet our staff:  Instructor, Alex Tienda, and Enrollment Specialist, Eve Wojtowicz.  Your child will enjoy our 4-week special (two 50-minute classes per week), a $129 value at no cost to you.  Beginner classes are offered Monday through Saturday.  Give us a call and schedule your first class!

Asian Arts Center, 661 Lyons Road, Centerville, Ohio, 45459 (937)395-0333

 

El final dia end of cliffhanger

Day three Guatemala: el final Dia
The last day I was in Antigua started with a bang.  Literally, it started with a bang. From what I gathered it was a Saint’s birthday, a Saints celebration, or something of that sort, and I guess it’s a reason for fireworks galore. There was one exception though, some of them weren’t fireworks.  They were real sticks of dynamite thrown up in the air or fired out of mortar cannons. So when I say that the day started with a bang, it really did.

I woke up with a jump and immediately got dressed and rushed out of the house only to find that no one was there. Not a soul, which concocted the insane idea that I had to defend myself against a raid of rebels flooding to the volunteer house (it was the morning and obviously I was not really thinking correctly). I stopped thinking about that idea once I heard the music and once Matt had knocked on the door. He came in with a friend, Frankie Tobias, the tricking king of Guatemala and a fellow martial artist. He was our acting tour guide for the city and he took us to some of the coolest and most beautiful places that I have seen in a while. Most of them were old ruins of churches that the Spanish built back in the sixteenth century.   The last was on top of a hill overlooking the entire city shadowed under a volcano. I never had the chance to climb it but one day I will go back and conquer it because it was taunting me from the moment I saw it on the first day.

We went to this restaurant called Mono Loco (the crazy Monkey) and ate the biggest plate of nachos that I have ever seen. All of this wasn’t the highlight of the day though.  That came when I went to the Tobias brother’s gym and finally had the chance to train with all three brothers: Tony, Ale, and Frankie. That lesson was the very first time that I had ever done a back flip on my own without anyone spotting me for help. Although it wasn’t my last stop on the trip it sure was the most exciting. My skills improved greatly and my understanding of other cultures skyrocketed leaving me forever wanting more.  Even if I have to do a million pushups, I will make it back there!  I hope that everyone who supported me in the past will support me in the future as I try to visit Guatemala again. Oh and sorry for taking so long on getting this on the web I figured a little cliffhanger would keep everyone on their toes.

By Alex Tienda Third Dan at the Asian Arts Center Dayton Ohio

Shifting into Drive

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how hard the students and staff have been working at the AAC.  I’ve noticed a lot of students are paying mind to what they need to work on and I’m seeing good results.  The students are looking so much sharper!  The staff has been very busy keeping our school in the lead with professionalism and quality service to our members.  The work is exhausting but rewarding.  It’s also been neat training with some of the parents who have joined the adult Tae Kwon Do program.  They have really risen to the challenge of strengthening body and mind.  Everyone has been shifting their gears into full drive!

Kellen Brown, Instructor

Diet Pills Dont Work

I was shopping the other day and was getting some of my favorite meal replacement bars.  I saw women and men buying all these different diet pills.  I wanted so badly to say, “don’t you think if diet pills worked, the whole world would be skinny?”.   Sometimes it seems as if people are always looking for an easy way out, especially when it comes to losing weight.  People see a bottle of pills with Kim Kardashian and it seems as if they immediately assume they will have her body.  However, we all forget that she is paying thousands of dollars for personal trainers and who knows how much on plastic surgery.  “The pills we currently have don’t seem to be terribly effective for long-term weight loss,” says registered dietitian Anne Fletcher of Mankato, Minnesota.   Still, the drug industry and many dieters remain convinced that a pill is the answer to the nation’s growing obesity epidemic.

Side effects are common when using diet pills. Sibutramine can increase blood pressure and heart rate in some patients. Orlistat, which alters the absorption of fat in food, can have embarrassing intestinal side effects. Rimonabant (used in Europe, but awaiting approval in this country) may, for some users, cause nausea, anxiety, depression and insomnia.  Instead of spending money on diet pills that won’t work, it makes much more sense to take classes at the Asian Arts Center, where not only do you receive a great workout but work on becoming stronger mentally.  It is very important to try to be the strongest you can be mentally and physically.  Why spend your hard earned money on diet pills that do not work and have dangerous side effects when you could be investing that money in yourself by taking classes at the Asian Arts Center?

Eve Wojtowicz, Enrollment Specialist

Losing Weight Through Taekwondo

Many people have chosen weight loss to be their New Year’s resolution.  The key to any resolution is to stick with it.  You can’t become discouraged and quit.  The Asian Arts Center can help you lose weight through Taekwondo.

A person weighing 160 pounds will burn about 730 calories during one hour of Taekwondo.  At the AAC, this is accomplished in a fun, relaxed way.  Our classes begin with stretching and warming up.  This warm up session gets the blood pumping to your muscles and elevates the heart rate.  From there, we move on to classic Taekwondo forms and stances.  These forms utilize the entire body.  There are kicks to stretch and raise the legs, punches and defensive moves for the arms, and low stances that stretch your lower body and strengthen the back.  While enjoying sparring, you are also getting an aerobic workout; thus pushing your heart rate further.

To effectively lose weight, you should partake in rigorous exercise for 2 ½ hours per week.  Our adult classes are offered Monday through Wednesday at 7:00 at the Kettering school.  By attending classes twice a week and then practicing at home once through the week, you are achieving the targeted amount of time to receive the best benefits from your workouts.

Through Taekwondo, not only will you begin to lose weight, but your body will feel and appear different.  Your flexibility will improve, allowing you to move more freely and greatly reduce your risk of injury.  You will also see a noticeable difference in muscle tone and your lower body will become stronger.  Plus, thanks to all of those high kicks, your legs and bottom will be more toned and shapely.

We pride ourselves in having small class sizes, allowing one-on-one contact with every student in the room.  This is a tremendous help when it comes to the encouragement that many people need to continue with a workout program.  Our instructors make it fun yet challenging.

Taekwondo is a total work out!  Come join us and become the best YOU that you can be.

Angel Perkins, Enrollment Specialist

How Taekwondo Can Help Your Child NOT Be a Victim of Bullying

The world in which we live is far different than it used to be.  Not a week goes by that we do not hear another story in the news regarding bullying at schools.  It has become an epidemic.  Although this war is being fought on many fronts, including within the schools, in our homes, and through social media, it is still prevalent.

Taekwondo can help a child learn many things including self-defense and how to breathe during stressful situations.  Most importantly, it can give your child confidence, which is key to not being a victim of bullying.  Statistics show that bullies target those whom they perceive to be weak or awkward.  It has been found that “most children who are harassed are what is termed ‘passive victims’: ‘cautious, sensitive, quiet, withdrawn, passive, submissive, shy, anxious, insecure, unhappy, and distressed’. They may also be physically weak and have what is called ‘body anxiety’.  They are clumsy, afraid of being hurt, and weak at sports and fights. They are always the last ones chosen for the team.” (http://www.education.com/reference/article/who-are-the-targets-of-bullying/?page=2)

Through Taekwondo, a child grows stronger, both mentally and physically.  Once they know that they can defend themselves, their whole demeanor changes.  They become more confidence and self-assured.  They maintain eye contact with people and no longer fear social situations.  This inner strength is powerful.  It can be felt by those around them, including potential bullies.

The instructors at the Asian Arts Center teach courtesy and respect for others while also demonstrating ways to avoid confrontational situations.  This winning combination of knowing how to avoid negative situations while also knowing how to defend themselves is the secret to a child’s success against the bullies they will encounter in today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s boardrooms.  It is the strong background that our children need so that they can become the leaders of the future.

 

Angel Perkins, Enrollment Specialist

Happier Kids

I was driving into work today and there was an advertisement for a new Wii.  It seems as if this Wii can do anything.  Who knows?  It probably can make dinner.  It made me think about how much technology has taken over.  What happened to the days of playing outside and having an imagination?  I can’t even make a list of how many electronic devises there are for kids now.  When I was young there was Sega, Nintendo, and Gameboy.  It scares me to think that children are losing their imaginations.  For Christmas I watched friends give their children toys that cost more than my rent, and I found myself doing the same thing for my daughter.  Of all the toys I bought her, the only thing she played with was a set of plates that look like funny faces.  One of her most expensive electronic toys ended up in the toilet (she’s 1.5 years old so she thinks the toilet is the greatest thing in our house).  This helped reinforce my decision on how I am raising my daughter and that is by focusing on her mental and physical health.  Every day we have a minimum of 1.5 hours of outside play.  If it’s raining or too cold, we play a fun active game inside.  This morning we ran around outside for almost 2 hours.  Her daycare called me and said she fell asleep on her lunch.  Haha!  As soon as Olivia is old enough, she will immediately be enrolled in classes at the Asian Arts Center.  The kids who take classes here are receiving a mental and physical workout; which is an amazing combination.    Why not enroll your child in classes here at the Asian Arts Center?  You will not be disappointed and your child will be happier and healthier!  We are so confident that you and your child will love attending classes here that we offer the first month (8 classes) completely risk free!

Eve Wojtowicz, Enrollment Specialist