Kyle Wheeler, Greeley Rec's Fitness Coordinator for the past three years, is ready, willing and more than able to help residents take their fitness seriously in 2025.
Yes, it's that time again: when those ready and willing can head down to the nearly 20-year-old Greeley Family FunPlex (1501 65th Ave.), where they'll find all the exercise equipment, workout space, fitness classes and recreational activities they need to start the year off right.
"First off, we have a new class: Belly Dancing," Kyle says. “One of our new instructors, Jen Davis-Finley, brought it up to me, and at first, I didn't even know if that was a 'gym thing!’ But then I did some research, brought the idea to my supervisor, and the class will now be starting this month on Monday mornings at the [partner facility] Greeley Rec Center (651 10th Ave.)."
Also, after being unavailable for nearly a year, the highly popular Stability & Balance class returns to the FunPlex on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This 45-minute class is designed for those wishing to improve posture, body alignment and core strength.
Longtime cycling instructor Lanelle Coble-McEachron will also lead the new FunPlex class Cycle & Stretch—30 minutes of stationary cycling, followed by 15 minutes of stretch/mobility work—on Friday mornings.
"We've been working hard to renovate the facility itself recently, too," Kyle cheers. The 2025 updates include remodeled and resurfaced flooring for the facility's walking track and weight room, new doors for enhanced locker room privacy, two sleek, high-velocity fans to cool the indoor waterpark, and beautifully restored pool tiles, alongside thorough maintenance and deep cleaning throughout the entire building.
"The funding for all of this had been available for a little while, and we just decided it was time to enact some of these upgrades," Kyle added. "And as Greeley continues to expand and evolve over time, we hope to as well!"
As for beginning-of-the-year tips on health consciousness from Kyle's years of expertise and service, he suggests:
- Don't be afraid of fruit! "Everyone is afraid of sugar, but fruit is not the same thing as donuts," Kyle laughs. "Fruit is a great thing!"
- What's the best exercise? "It's whichever one you'll actually do! If you love volleyball, play that. If you want to play Pickleball, do that. Whatever you do, find your barriers, then chip away at them."
- Move some weight. "Even if it's once a week," some kind of "resistance training" (using weights or weighted objects for workouts) is better than nothing, Kyle advises. Or, as Kyle so eloquently puts it, "As long as you're moving, you're already lapping everyone else on the couch.
Exciting updates for 2025 include: new and returning fitness classes such as Beginning Belly Dance, Stability & Balance and Cycle & Stretch. The FunPlex also welcomes new instructors Jen Davis-Finley and Mena Mercer, while recent renovations enhance the facility with upgraded flooring and refurbished pool tiles. For more details visit greeleyrec.com/family-funplex.