It’s “goodbye gym, hello fitness” with Fort Lauderdale’s new citywide fitness initiative, focused on offering fit-centered opportunities for visiting groups and individuals.
“We’ve developed wellness programs in conjunction with our medical facilities, to be sure of their healthful qualities,” notes Christine Roberts-Tascione, vice president of convention sales and services for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB (www.sunny.org), and to that end, the fit tips come with a calorie guide.
One option is Flo-Yo (211 calories/hour), a new fitness craze created in Fort Lauderdale by yoga expert Dashama Konah Gordon, which involves holding yoga poses while balancing on a board, on a lake. Rentals and lessons are offered at Fort Lauderdale’s George English Park.
Visitors can two-wheel it on a Tour de Fit (281 calories/hour) using the city’s new B-Cycle bike sharing program. Some bikes come equipped with onboard GPS to track mileage, calories burned and carbon offsets.
Anyone looking for something a bit more extreme can take a Flight of Fantasy (422 calories/hour), strapping on a water-powered pack and soaring up to 30 feet above the waves.
“It’s something that’s very cool and popular,” Roberts-Tascione says. “We had a group from Bacardi do it. They get up there for a few minutes and scream, but they love it.”
Tango, fox trot and waltz lessons (387 calories/hour) are also part of the program, along with organized marathons (563 calories/hour) and dive tours of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s multitiered natural reef system (352 calories/hour).
“Groups want something unique to give them peace and balance—something more than going to a spa or gym,” Roberts-Tascione says.