Creating a routine is more important for staying healthy and balanced than one might realize.  Most think, “I will just do more cardio,” or “I will lift weights three times a week,” or “I will eat healthier.” All of those are good ideas, but those ideas must be blended for balance and injury prevention.

Let’s make a recipe for fitness: 3-4 days of strength training, 3-5 days of cardio, flexibility throughout the week and nutrition to match up to our added activity.  

With this in mind, we have classes for all fitness levels and goals. I am going to break down the classes we have available for your perfect blend of health, fitness and relaxation.

For full-body strength training, we have Strength Resistance Training (SRT) with Kelly Vizzone, who has been with Cordillera Ranch for six years. Her SRT class is a total body workout! We use a personally selected number of dumbbells, weight plates and barbells to work the muscular endurance of your body. You will feel and see a difference within the first two weeks of working in this class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15am in the group exercise studio. To balance out all the work from SRT, take Yoga Fit at 10:15am on those same days. Kelly will leave you feeling fluid and flexible in this flow class that keeps you moving. You finish this class with a well-earned relaxation.  

Need an early morning workout? Natalie Sales teaches a full-body strength class as well! Join Natalie at 6:30am on Mondays and Wednesdays for Sets & Reps. This class will change your body’s shape quickly and effectively with great music to get your day started right.  

HIIT training is proven to burn stored fat effectively as well as revving metabolism. I teach the OutFITter Workout on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:45am at the Outfitter Center. This class works strength, stamina, core and cardio, and options are offered for all levels. We do this class year-round and love that it gets our heart pumping. Early morning classes are tough to start, but think of it this way: nothing gets in the way of your workout because you got it done first thing. 

In our mind, body, toning and shaping categories, we have our amazing Master Pilates instructor, Kris Cracknell, who will work to lengthen and strengthen your muscles. Kris has been with Cordillera Ranch for eight years and has grown the Pilates program so much that we brought in another Pilates instructor, Ronnie White. Ronnie started with us a little over six months ago and has brought talent in Pilates reformer, Pilates chair and the increasingly popular Barrelates.  

Pilates combines flexibility and makes your whole body — especially your core! — stronger. We have recently brought in Pilates chairs, which challenge your body even more. The Jumpboard and Barrelates classes will give you a cardio pump and leave you with a badge of soreness to show the work well done.  

Kathy Miller is a Personal Trainer and an amazing instructor for us here at Cordillera Ranch. Kathy has been with Cordillera Ranch since December of 2021. She teaches Group Cycle, Functionally Fit and will be teaching Aqua Fitness as well starting in May! Aqua Fitness is designed for all levels and is a fun way to stay cool and burn calories to a fun playlist of music!

Kelly also teaches ELDOA, and recently brought in ELDOA for Golf. This class aligns the spine and joints, stretches the myofascial lines of the body and brings awareness to better posture. This alignment improves us for everyday life, but especially for golf, tennis and many other sports.  

Like a list of ingredients for a favorite dish, we all need a fitness recipe for success. As always, I am here to help you determine your most effective plan and I look forward to guiding you on your path to wellness. 

Tamra Christiansen is the Fitness and Wellness Director at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch. She can be reached at tchristiansen@cordilleraranch.com and 830.336.9184.