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Stretching, sweating and social skills

East Rockaway students visit ROK Health & Fitness to learn through exercise

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Nearly a dozen students from East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School Life Skills class learned how to stay fit, how to stretch and how to spin — among other important and useful tasks —thanks to a program sponsored by ROK Fitness & Health just blocks from their school on Ocean Avenue.

“It’s a real joy to see the kids enjoying themselves at ROK,” said the fitness center’s co-owner Michael Hawksby. “That’s the best part of creating something special — giving back wherever and whenever we’re asked.”

One of the goals of the Life Skills program, said coach and Life Skills teacher Cheri Poland, is to get the students out in the community. “They learn how to use a gym, how to use the equipment, and how to interact with other community members,” she said. Poland, teachers Krisina Imandt and Paul Collins, and the school’s Athletic Director Dom Vulpis are involved in the program.

“Anyone that has children or has been around children knows how special it is to be able to give them something to look forward to and enjoy such as days like this,” said ROK co-owner Bob D’Urso.

Trainers conducted three, 20-minute mini classes including basic yoga, stretching, spin class and certain calisthenics movements. Craig D’Urso, the club’s executive director of operations, said that his staff worked wonderfully with the students. “There has never been a time or day when I ask an instructor or trainer to help out with the kids that they ever say anything other than ‘tell me when, and I’ll be there.’ Its a joy to have great people work with us here.”

“ROK has been so welcoming to us and the kids,” said Poland. “That place is truly an asset to the community and to this program.”