The Road To Wellness 5K Run/2-Mile Walk

Embrace your journey. Walk or run with us!

From Desk Job to Yogi: Megan Stokes

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 July 10, 2015

Megan Stokes: For years I had a really active outdoors job. I danced and swam every week. But after moving to Boston and taking a desk job 7 years ago, I found myself with less and less time to move my body. Like most of us, I really felt myself carrying a lot of extra weight after an indulging during the holidays this past December.

That’s when I decided to turn things around. I cut unhealthy foods out of my diet and scaled back my drinking. I set a goal of doing yoga every single day for a month starting on New Year’s Day. At first, ten minutes of yoga felt like a chore and my body just couldn’t seem to move the right way. Then slowly, over time, and guided on by an awesome yoga youtube series (YogaWithAdriene.com), my body began to crave it. Positions that once felt out of reach, inch by inch became more possible. The shoulder stand became my holy grail. Every day for two months I kicked my feet up in the air and stood on my head only to fall down seconds later. Now, I can stand on my head as long as I’d like – even on a windy beach!

We’re at July now, and I’m still doing yoga every day. My body is stronger than ever and it’s inspired me to try new things like rock climbing and back-packing. Next up is running a 5K, which I’ve never done before, but I figure it’s just like a headstand: with daily practice I can do it.

Training is Underway!

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Our first 5K Running Clinic held on June 27th at Playstead Park was a huge success. More than 20 individuals joined us for the kickoff to a series of trainings aimed at motivating individuals to Embrace their Journey and get active. The B.A.A. led the clinic, which began with a warm up lap and some strength-based exercises. We then broke off into groups based on fitness level. There was a walking group, a walk/run group and groups who did 3+ miles.

The morning was filled with inspiration and excitement as we began our own individual journey along The Road to Wellness. Join us for our next clinic on July 11th at Playstead Park in Franklin Park!

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Partners

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The Dimock Center, HoodFit, Boston Athletic Association Partner for Roxbury 5K Walk/Run
On Saturday September 10th, The Dimock Center, HoodFit and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will host its Second Annual ‘Road to Wellness 5k Walk/Run.’ The event will kick-off at The Dimock Center and continue through the Roxbury community. The event is anticipated to engage over 1,000 participants from over 200 surrounding communities to unite runners and walkers in their pursuit of wellness, as well as celebrate the rich history of Roxbury. The collaboration of The Dimock Center, Hood Fit, and the B.A.A. will expose participants to holistic health approaches through fitness resources, community events and experiential fitness clinics.

“The launch of this event is a true testament of our mission to heal and uplift individuals, families and our community,” said Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, President and CEO of The Dimock Center. “We hope to inspire individuals, families and the local business community to embrace health, wellness, and fitness while celebrating Roxbury’s rich history and strong sense of community.”

The event will have something to offer the whole family with a “fun run” for kids, light entertainment, and a health and wellness festival. The festival will offer the opportunity for participants to receive health screenings, talk to experts about health and fitness, and explore offerings from area businesses.

“The opportunity to bridge the beauty of Roxbury with the beauty of the people who live and work there is tremendous,” Thaddeus Miles, Director of Public Safety for MassHousing and founder of HoodFit shared. “It is HoodFit’s mission to amplify the positive contributions of residents who live in communities that are traditionally overlooked so bringing activities that reinforce health and wellness, particularly to urban neighborhoods, is exactly where we want to partner.”

There will be optional fitness training days held throughout the summer leading up to the walk/run. The first day of training will be held on Saturday June 27th at 9am at Franklin Park.

“We are proud to partner with The Dimock Center and HoodFit for this inaugural event in support of community health, fitness, and engagement,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “Since 1887, the mission of the B.A.A. has been to promote health and fitness in our community, especially through running, and this echoes the mission and goals of this event.”