Celebrate Heart Month through a great aerobic workout.
 February is Heart Month, and Women’s Health Source and Riddle Hospital in Delco are offering a free I Heart Zumba fitness class in celebration! The fitness center staff will offer this Latin-inspired dance workout at 6 and 7:30 p.m. The first session includes healthy snacks and stretching and fitness tips before Zumba begins at 6:30. Limited spots are available, so hurry and register here.
FREE, February 22, 6 and 7:30 p.m., Health Center 4 at Riddle Hospital Fitness Center, 1068 W. Baltimore Pike, Media.
>> Have a health or fitness event you’d like to share with Be Well Philly readers? Email eleaman@phillymag.com with details.
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Three charities with Broad Street bibs for runners who fundraise
 If you’re one of the many who tragically discovered that the Broad Street Run was full before you had the chance to register (I’m bitter, if you couldn’t tell), hope is not lost! Several charities put aside bibs in advance for runners willing to fundraise on their behalf. If you want to be a fund-runner (I crack myself up), touch base with one of the three participating charities below. They only have a limited number of bibs to give out, so if yesterday’s madness is any indication, these will fly off shelves, too. Move fast!
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So you're doubling up your workouts, huh? Here's how to do it safely.
As a collegiate rower, I’ve participated in two-a-day—and even three-a-day (!)—workouts during spring and winter training sessions, when we had no class and were at the mercy of our coaches’ agendas. It came to the point where I was just going through the motions because I was so mentally and physically exhausted. Looking back, I have to wonder: were the double-time workouts even improving my fitness? Isn’t rest important?
I asked local trainers to weigh in on the safety of two-a-days and offer insight on how to double-up workouts without compromising your health.
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Learn what's normal and what's not in your child's language development.
 Want to make sure your child is developing language normally? James Coplan, noted author, speaker and neurodevelopmental pediatrician from Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics of the Main Line, is conducting a workshop called Speech and Language: The Key to Child Development. He will describe normal speech and language development in young children, review the importance of distinguishing between delayed speech and delayed language, and discuss best practices for intervention. Register here.
$10 per family, February 28, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Valley Forge Educational Services Conference Center, 1777 North Valley Road, Paoli.
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Take advantage of a week's worth of health and fitness deals.
 Here’s a great way to kick off spring: with health and fitness deals galore. From March 19 through 25, Philly spas, yoga studios, health clubs and salons will participate in Philadelphia Wellness Week, when they’ll offer services and products at either 50 percent off or a flat-rate $50. Many businesses will also be hosting free consultations, mini-treatments, and workshops to help local residents look and feel their best. Some of the participating locations include: the Massage Studio (King of Prussia), the Body Klinic (Rittenhouse), Welcare Med Spas (Rittenhouse and Spring House), and AME Salon and Spa (Wayne).
Sign up here through February 22nd to be notified via email and get the exclusive opportunity to book deals before the general public, or hit up the site beginning on February 29th with everyone else!
Prices range, March 19 through 25, participating locations.
>> Have an event you’d like to share with Be Well Philly readers? Email eleaman@phillymag.com with details.
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Hey college students, it's (almost) time to get back in that bikini.
There isn’t a whole lot of appeal to winter wardrobes, if you ask me. Dark colors and one boring sweater after another only deepen my desire for spring to come faster. Here’s what sweaters are good for, though: hiding those few extra pounds that crept up over winter break.
Well, spring break’s just around the corner, so the jig’s almost up if you’re planning a warm-weather vacation. So start prepping your body now with these toning and slimming tips.
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It's not always a physical challenge; sometimes the mental challenge of a strenuous workout is the hardest one to overcome.
So you’ve donned your workout gear and dragged yourself to the gym; now you’re going through the motions on the treadmill. So far so good. But 15 minutes into the run, you’re starting to sweat, your legs hurt, and a little voice inside your head tells you to press the stop button. How do you motivate yourself to finish the workout?
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your brain plays such an important role in physical exertion: tell yourself you’re tired, and you’ll feel tired. I asked sports psychologists and local athletes to find out optimal mental strategies to get the most out of workouts and athletic performances.
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A free screening of a documentary on the community acupuncture movement
 Don’t feel like emptying your wallet for a fun Saturday night? Check out the free screening of award-winning filmmaker Brian Lindstrom’s documentary, Community Acupuncture: The Calmest Revolution Ever Staged. Lindstrom tells the story of the community acupuncture movement, a social movement which has its start in Portland’s Cully neighborhood and has subsequently spread around the country—including Philly. The film follows six diverse community acupuncture patients and shows the impact of affordable acupuncture on their lives and communities. The local screening, being held at the Broad Street Ministry, is being hosted by three community acupuncture clinics. Snacks and drinks will be served. More details are here.
FREE, February 25, 7 to 9 p.m., 315 S. Broad Street.
>> Have an event you’d like to share with Be Well Philly readers? Email eleaman@phillymag.com with details.
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Not your average fitness event
Looking for an adventurous fitness event? How about one where competitors have to provide their own bricks and headlamps? (Seriously!)
The GORUCK Challenge is a team race in which competitors solve problems and work together to complete a journey that runs between 8 to 10 hours and covers up to 20 miles. While there are no guarantees that everyone will finish, one thing’s for sure—you’ll never get bored!
$140 before March 10th, $160 after; race date is May 12th, 1 a.m to 10 p.m., start point TBA. Learn more about the race here.
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Some Philly facilities have special perks—from beautiful gardens to yoga facilities—to help caregivers unwind.
 HUP nurses enjoying massage chairs in the new Center for Nursing Renewal Newsflash: doctors and nurses aren’t superhuman. Sure, they can fix your broken arm or help you beat cancer, but the incredible stress they face at the workplace can be taxing, and they often can’t find time to attend to their own mental and physical health needs.
A study found that doctors’ continuous exposure to stressful situations—excessive demands, long shifts—can result in burnout syndrome, a chronic stress reaction that causes caregivers to work less efficiently and can lead to potentially unsafe practices. That’s worrisome for doctors and patients alike.
To combat burnout, some local hospitals have created programs and facilities specially designed for employees to relax, reflect and rejuvenate. The newest is at HUP, where chief nurse executive Victoria Rich helped create the Center for Nursing Renewal. It features a relaxation room complete with massage chairs and soothing music, a training room with daily yoga classes, and a meditation room that provides a private space for staff to reserve alone time. To further promote a positive environment, the center allows regular visits from registered pet-therapy dogs who bring cheer to worn-out staff. The center is focused on “the world away from work” with beautiful images hung on the walls and even a tropical fish tank at the entrance to the meditation room.
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