By Christine Galeone

Did you make any New Year resolutions to become healthier? Or are you trying to develop any new healthy habits? If, like a lot of people, you’ve stopped trying or haven’t made any yet, it’s not too late to start or to try again.  

While there are some excellent online resources that can help people achieve that goal, such as CDC.gov/quit and smokefree.gov, which help people to quit smoking – one of the best things people can do for their health and fitness – there are many Grafton organizations and businesses that can help people get on and stay on the right path.   

The Grafton Senior Center is trying to help seniors to keep their hearts healthy. The center’s exercise classes include Breathing and Healing Chair Yoga, Fall Prevention Exercise, Cardio Barre Exercise, Zumba and Senior Exercise Class.  

Similarly, Grafton Community Television has also been helping seniors. GCT airs the center’s previous Senior Strength and Balance class at 10:30 a.m. every day. The classes can be viewed on Ch. 34 on Verizon and Ch. 191 on Charter.

In North Grafton, Anytime Fitness offers various coaching options to help people reach their fitness goals. New members who are 18 years old or older and live in Grafton can get a free trial by signing up on the business’s website, anytimefitness.com/gyms/954/grafton-ma-01536/.

If you have an interest in martial arts and self-defense training, Premier Sport Taekwondo in North Grafton can help you through a variety of classes. Premier Sport Taekwondo, www.premierkick.com, teaches martial arts, karate, taekwondo and self-defense classes for kids, teens and adults. Although they might be sold out by the time this column goes to press, special highly-discounted two-week passes to the studio’s martial arts classes are being offered through mid-February or until they sell out. They include the Women Positive Mindset classes, Adult Taekwondo classes and Teen Taekwondo classes.    

For adults, teens and children who want to get fit and express themselves through dance, there are a few Grafton businesses that can help. Dance classes for children, teens and adults of all ages (including people with special needs) are available at Grafton Common-based Beatz Dance Studio,  at beatzdance.com. In addition to its adult Zumba and Tap classes, the studio has adult Ballet Tone and Technique, Contemporary and Hip Hop classes. Several dance classes for kids and teens are also available at North Grafton’s Dance It Up, danceitup.com. And all levels of Irish dance classes for children and teens can be found at Murphy Academy of Irish Dance, murphyacademy.com.

If you prefer to get exercise outdoors, the Town of Grafton Recreation Department might have what you need to keep your healthier resolutions while enjoying your snowy surroundings. The Recreation Department has free snowshoe rentals available. More information can be found on the department’s Facebook page.  

Initiating healthier habits this year may not be easy, but gaining strength, vitality and better health is certainly worth the effort. And Grafton organizations and businesses can make the process much more enjoyable.

Contact Christine with your Grafton Business news.