THE BEST OF DURHAM
Vanessa Mazuz, Curtis Perkins, Louisa Warren and class instructor Chelsea Butler use TRX suspension bands to work on suspended push-ups at the Red Rover van in Durham Central Park.
COME ON OVER
THE YMCA JUST LAUNCHED ITS RED ROVER MOBILE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES IN DURHAM
T
he YMCAs in Durham have been named a readers’ favorite every year since the Best of Durham poll started in 2011. But the Durham YMCAs have had dedicated members for decades, dating to the late 1800s. With four locations in the Bull City, many in this tight-knit community participate in one or many of its fitness programs. One of the newest programs to Durham involves a big red van that looks like a food truck. It’s the Red Rover. And instead of food, you’ll find everything from dumbbells and mats to step risers and push-pull sleds inside it. On this particular day, it’s sitting under the pavilion at Durham Central Park. The 50
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two instructors, Chelsea Butler and Channie Thornton, were ready to break a sweat with their seven guests during a Vigorous 6.0 workout. “When you think of old-school gyms, you see machines and things that people get overwhelmed with,” says Chelsea, the director of group fitness and personal training at the YMCA. “They are not conducive [to the movements] we do in our daily activities. Functional fitness really helps promote growth and strength, and being able to perform your daily activities.” “We have a tire out here. You think about bending over and picking up grocery bags, and then reaching up and putting them