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Arts & Entertainment

Expo, Open House Set At Renaud Spirit Center

Weekend events promote health and fitness.

Summer is over. All that outdoor physical activity you've gotten from doing yard work, swimming at the pool or playing softball in the park must come to an end.

But that's no reason to stop being active. The offers a variety of amenities to help you keep in shape through the fall and winter. To learn all about what the center has to offer, as well as learn some valuable information about your own health, attend the Renaud Spirit Center’s Open House and Live Well Expo.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24, at the center in O'Fallon Sports Park, 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O'Fallon. Doors will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. During this time, the center's facilities can be used for free, including the pool from noon to 6:30 p.m.

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"This is our sixth year for the open house and our second year for the Live Well Expo," said Ty Joyce, fitness specialist for the center. "This is the first year we've combined the two."

The Live Well Expo will feature a variety of activities including cooking demonstrations, a family fitness challenge, a food court that emphasizes healthy foods, free lectures on health and healthy lifestyles, free bike helmet check and fittings (helmets will be available for purchase), chair massage and acupuncture meridian analysis.

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Health screenings, gait analysis, posture screening and biometric screenings will be available. Vendors offering health and fitness products and services will also be on hand. There will also be games for children and activities like pumpkin decorating.

"The expo came about because of a grant we received," Joyce said. "It's designed to educate people on food, nutrition, smoking—basically anything health related. It's all health and fitness related, covering a wide variety of topics."

The open house is designed to spotlight the city's 66,000-square-foot indoor recreation complex. Open house activities include a blood drive (walk-ins welcome); raffles, prizes and light refreshments; and activities for children including face painting, inflatables and a balloon artist.

Staff will conduct swim tests between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for children interesting in placement in the center's Learn to Swim program. Bring suitable swimwear to take part in the swim tests.

The center will offer a 10-percent discount on new memberships purchased during the open house. The event draws around 500 people every year.

"We get lots to join up, we offer an incentive to join," Joyce said. "We get roughly 40 people on average."

Membership allows access to the center's amenities and programs, including the pool, gym and fitness center. The natatorium features a 185-foot three-turn waterslide, lazy river with waterfalls, adult swim lanes, vortex pool, zero-depth water entry, water-play features for children and family locker rooms. The gym has a volleyball court and two full-size basketball courts. The fitness center offers cardio-exercise equipment, free weights, weight equipment, personal consultation rooms and a three-lane indoor track.

There is also an aerobics room, a food court, an art gallery, a children's area, arts and crafts rooms and a room for birthday parties. Childcare is available for ages 3 months to 9 years old.

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