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Morgan Park Sports Center Adding Yoga and Fitness Studio

By Howard Ludwig | October 22, 2015 5:31am
 Hanna Morfogen of Lakeview (left) and Christine Rowan of suburban Evergreen Park are putting together the schedule for the new Morgan Park Yoga & Fitness Studio. The exercise facility will be located within the Morgan Park Sports Center at 11505 S. Western Ave.
Hanna Morfogen of Lakeview (left) and Christine Rowan of suburban Evergreen Park are putting together the schedule for the new Morgan Park Yoga & Fitness Studio. The exercise facility will be located within the Morgan Park Sports Center at 11505 S. Western Ave.
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DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig

MORGAN PARK — Parents already at the Morgan Park Sports Center for their children's gymnastics or ice skating lessons will soon be able to sneak in a quick workout.

Managers of the indoor ice rink and gymnastics center at 11505 S. Western Ave. are planning to unveil the Morgan Park Yoga & Fitness Studio on Nov. 9.

The studio will occupy a room on the second floor of the facility designed as a dance studio. Instructors Hanna Morfogen of Lakeview and Christine Rowan of suburban Evergreen Park will use the bright room in the upper northwest corner of the building offer yoga, Zumba, boot camp fitness classes and more.

"My surprise about this building is just how popular it is and how friendly people have been," said Moira O'Connor, the facilities manager for the Chicago Park District building that officially debuted on Sept. 12.

O'Connor believes the new fitness studio will further capitalize on that enthusiasm surrounding the sports center. First, she's hoping that parents already at the facility for other activities will try out one of the many classes.

But she also hopes that the studio will give seniors and others who might have interest in gymnastics or ice skating a reason to visit.

Rowan and Morfogen are working on a schedule that will likely offer about four classes daily during the week and roughly three classes per day on the weekends. Anyone interested in the fitness classes will be able to sample the various courses for free at an open house on Nov. 2.

"One of our goals is that little kids, adults, older kids and seniors can all come" to use the fitness studio, Morfogen said on Tuesday.

The organizers also believe that the facility will be attractive because of its competitive pricing. Any one can "drop-in" for a class and pay $10. Otherwise, monthly unlimited memberships cost $60, and a two-month unlimited membership costs $100.

For seniors age 65 and older, a two-month unlimited membership costs $50.

O'Connor works for SMG, a management company based in suburban Philadelphia. The company handles the facility management and marketing in Morgan Park as well as at McFetridge Sports Center in Irving Park.

She said a similar fitness program was launched at McFetridge one year ago. It took some time to find an audience, but a group of regular attendees have since embraced the concept.

O'Connor believes it will take less time to develop a core group in Morgan Park because of all buzz surrounding the new facility. Rowan, a Beverly native, agreed.

"I think people in the community are really excited about it," Rowan said.

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