Category Archives: Health & Fitness

By Lisa Balschunat
Use of online classes and parking lots kept some clients of local gyms and fitness centers participating in their exercise routines, but the lack of social connection was an important element that was lacking during the shutdown caused by the coronavirus.
The state recently allowed gyms to reopen in late August. They had been closed since March 16.
“We are very excited about our reopening. We’re trying to help people find their new normal,” said Saratoga Regional YMCA Interim CEO Scott Clark. “During the past five months, our Malta location offered a full-based pre-school for 175 kids for parents who were essential workers, and operated our summer Care program for 92 kids per week.“
“The kids had an opportunity to get outside and run around,” he added. “We had to be flexible and fluid to meet state regulations, but we wanted kids to be kids whenever possible.”

By Jennifer Farnsworth
After 19 years of practicing emergency medicine, Dr. Clara Somoza felt the time was right to start her own practice. As a doctor of osteopathic medicine, Somoza offers a patient-focused approach to health care that looks into a patient’s physical, personal and spiritual well being.
Somoza said not only were her emergency room patients wanting her to offer a place to continue care, but her colleagues were hoping she would do so as well.

By Christine Graf

By offering year-round opportunities for athletes in grades 3 through 12 to train and compete, ADK Field Hockey LLC in Round Lake, is growing the sport of field hockey in the Capital Region and beyond.

Owners Phil and Jen Sykes of Round Lake have been involved in the business for more than 10 years. The club started with just 14 players but grew rapidly due to positive word of mouth.

“People started hearing about the club and then it doubled, tripled, and quadrupled. It just kept growing and growing,” said Phil Sykes. “We now have more than 250 players.”

Dr. Josenia Tan has been named medical director of pathology and laboratory medicine at Saratoga Hospital. She was also elected chair of the department at the hospital by the Saratoga Hospital medical staff. Dr. Joy Tan

Tan came to Saratoga Hospital in 2018 as assistant medical director of pathology and laboratory medicine. Previously, she was an assistant professor and associate chief of laboratory medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.

She heads a team of three anatomic and clinical pathologists. All are members of the faculty in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Albany Med. All also are on the Saratoga Hospital medical staff, assigned full time—and exclusively—to Saratoga Hospital.

By Christine Graf

Saratoga Spring’s newest yoga studio, enLiven, is now offering a full schedule of yoga and movement classes.

The studio, located at 120 South Broadway, had a Memorial Day soft opening. Since that time, owner Carrie Winograd Kaufman has been busy hiring teachers and planning class offerings.

Regular classes at enLiven will be taught by one of the studio’s five teachers. Guest teachers will also be conducting special classes and workshops.

Kaufman has been teaching yoga locally for more than 12 years. Five years ago, she quit her job to found enLiven Retreats. After working exclusively on her business for several years, she resumed her career as an internet executive. She continues to operate enLiven Retreats in addition to operating her new studio.

Kaufman’s retreat business has evolved over time to meet the demands of her customers. Part of that evolution included opening a Saratoga Springs studio.

By Andrea Palmer

Michael Lapolla and Nicholas Galuardi are celebrating 10 years in business with Saratoga Health & Wellness at 538 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs.

“Nick and I previously worked for a cardiology group in town, and they went through some changes and challenges. At that point, we ended up going off on our own. We officially opened in November 2009,” said Lapolla.

The center provides a variety of fitness programs, including some specialized for golfers.

Good nutrition is also important.

Rebecca Mahoney, a certified and registered dietitian, provides nutrition services to all members.  She specializes in behavioral nutrition and can provide very specific advice regarding various medical problems, including diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and eating disorders. 

By Christine Graf

Capital District Sport & Fitness (CDSF), located at 21 Wood Road in Round Lake, celebrated its first year in business in June. Owners Mike Sirani and Dan Jones are Capital Region natives who met while on the baseball team at Springfield College.

After receiving a B.S. in applied exercise science, Sirani moved to Boston and worked as a trainer for professional, collegiate, and high school athletes. Jones stayed on at Springfield College after graduating with a B.S. in sports biology. He served as a graduate assistant coach for the college’s baseball team while working on his M.S. in exercise science with a concentration in exercise and sport psychology. After earning his M.S. he returned to the Capital Region to begin his training career.

Sirani relocated to the area after he and Jones decided to open a training facility together. Although they specialize in small group, semi-private training, they also offer group fitness classes.

By Susan E. Campbell

Fitness trainers have found that while wearable devices are fun and useful tools for tracking progress, there is nothing like the personal touch for motivating clients to meet their goals.

Fitness tracker devices count steps walked, calories burned, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. Many sync data to cell phones or other devices though mobile apps that can be shared with friends and personal trainers.

Some believe “wearables” have led to better health or greater weight loss, although results can vary among different age and lifestyle groups when compared with the old-fashioned methods. A study published by the JAMA Network in 2016 concluded there was less weight loss among 471 adult users when compared to a control group.

“People are tech savvy today and rely on their gadgets,” said Laurie Romand who operates Full Circle Fitness NY with two small boutique studios in Colonie and Saratoga. “People may be hooked on the technology, but it does help people track what they are looking to measure. “