September Newsletter 2021

I have to be honest with you... I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride and sometimes it's not the best ride in town! Was really hoping that we would be seeing progress with COVID but it has not worked out that way. I want to thank every one of you for handling the mask mandate we are currently facing. Please remember our fitness areas outside if you are struggling to exercise with a mask. We were hoping to have more social events but feel it's just not the right time as we go through this next period.

We do have some good news though! We have many projects happening to make OVAC better than ever. We are currently adding three new shade structures by the pool. We got feedback that you guys wanted more shade and I think this will make a great addition. We also put in our order for 100 new lounge chairs by the pool. There is a shortage of aluminum so it will take 6-8 weeks but we are excited to give the pool furniture a much needed facelift! Our big project is also on the calendar for this month. We will start the tennis court project on courts 6-8. We will be pouring concrete and creating three new courts. After the project is done, we will resurface the remaining three side courts for early Spring.

We hope you will enjoy the new look when all the projects are done. Thanks again for being a part of the OVAC family!

See Ya at the Club!

Ryan

 

LABOR DAY HOURS

We will be open 8am-8pm. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

 

 

WINE & PAINT NIGHT

Friday, September 24th from 6-8pm
$45 per person

Join Sarah Sidote-Ortiz for a fun fall themed paint party! All supplies, wine, and inspiration are provided. Due to limited space, all seats will be charged to your account in advance. Children are welcome to join us!
TO SIGN UP CLICK HERE.

 

RACQUET NEWS

Though summer may be over we still get to enjoy it for a bit longer than most due to our beautiful Ojai weather. With dismissals happening later at schools this year we've had to make some adjustments and bump back the times for our kids clinics. See the updated times posted below.

COURTS 6,7 & 8 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Exciting news! We have received the ok to go ahead with the court improvements on 6, 7 and 8. Rather than resurfacing we will essentially be rebuilding the courts which is more labor-intensive and time-consuming due to pumping,pouring and curing of concrete. The courts will be unusable for about 8 weeks but the final product will be new courts which aren't prone to cracking. The work will begin the week of labor day. It will be a little tight on court availability for a while but hopefully the impact will be minimal. Thanks to all for your patience and cooperation.

NEED A NEW TENNIS RACQUET OR PICKLEBALL PADDLE?

OVAC will be happy to help you with your Tennis and pickleball equipment needs. We have relationships with Wilson for tennis and Gearbox for pickleball with very competitive pricing and great savings. Please contact Steve at [email protected] with any questions.

SUNDAY MORNING ADVANCED PICKLEBALL

Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30AM for fast and exciting pickleball action led by our very own GM Ryan Gaston. The level of play here is quite advanced so if you're not sure about whether this is for you please contact Ryan or myself to run it past us. Again, members are invited to bring their high caliber guests
free of charge.

 

TENNIS CLINICS

Contact Steve at [email protected] to sign up for any clinic. The weekly JUNIOR tennis clinics will resume after labor day.

JUNIOR CLINICS

Intermediate Clinic- Invitation Only- Children must be able to rally, serve and play points. Ages 9-14 as a loose rule. Inclusion in the clinic is based on Tennis Directors approval. Ages 9-14. Cost: $18 member/$21 non-member

Monday & Wednesday 4pm-5:30pm (90 minutes)

Future Stars- for our youngest players aged 5-8 who are new to tennis. Fun learning through movement and games. Ages 5-8. Cost: $12 member/$15 non-member.

Monday & Wednesday 3:45pm-4:30pm, Saturday at 9 AM (45 minutes)

Bigger Littles Clinic- A clinic for our older beginners who have some experience. Physical conditioning, stroke production and drills/games are part of this clinic. Ages 8-12. Cost: $15 member/$18 non-member.

Monday & Wednesday 4:30pm-5:30pm, Saturday at 10 AM, (60 minutes)

ADULT CLINICS

Advanced Live Ball- Invitation Only
Mondays 5:30pm-6:30pm. Cost: $15 member/$18 non-member

Ladies Intermediate Live Ball- Invitation Only
Wednesdays 5:30 pm-6:30 pm. Cost: $15 member/$18 non-member
Saturdays 9am-10am. Cost: $15 member/$18 non-member

Adult Beginner/Intermediate Clinic
Saturdays 10-11:30am. Cost: $18 members/$21 non-members (CURRENTLY IN ABATEMENT UNTIL NUMBERS COME BACK UP)

DROP IN TENNIS

Drop in Doubles: Tuesday/Thursday at 3:30pm
Cronies Doubles: Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 7am

PICKLEBALL

Adult Beginner Pickleball Instruction - Please contact Steve if interested in group or private pickleball lessons.

Open Play: Pickleball is open all day, 7 days a week. Paddles and balls available at the front desk for loan. All membership types may play. Guests are currently free for Sunday morning advanced play sessions.

Group Play- 8:30 AM on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Informal group doubles.

 

FALL PREVENTION

-Fitness Director Danielle Wommack

A famous strength and conditioning coach, Dan John, once said "the most dangerous part of my day is when I step out of the shower". And as we age, the risk of catastrophe resulting from losing balance becomes all too real. The unfortunate truth is that:

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.
• Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
• In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion. Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs.
• This loss of mobility makes it two-three times more likely that the older adult who suffered the fall meets their maker.

No need to despair though because like many problems in life, exercise is the key to prevention.

First though let's discuss how the body controls balance. The body using the following systems to keep you in balance:

1. The Vestibular System located in the inner ear. This system provides the brain information about how the body is moving, equilibrium, and spatial awareness.
2. The Musculoskeletal System consists of skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons that send sensory information to the brain to help your brain know where your body is in space and when changes happen in your environment.
3. The Neuromuscular System provides information to the brain from the eyes, vestibular, and musculoskeletal system, and then sends this information on how to respond to changes in the environment via the central and peripheral nervous system.

Below are 5 exercise suggestions to help improve all three of these systems:

1. SQUATS are an activity of daily life from the moment we wake up until we go to bed, even if you don't realize it. Examples include getting in and out of bed, when nature calls, picking something up off the floor, standing and sitting from a chair. A strong lower body (quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes) will be essential to staying mobile and preventing falls and squats are an excellent way to build such strength. Further, squats can strengthen the core muscles that make everyday movements like turning, bending, and standing easier. Plus, a strong core can ease low back pain, making it easier to maintain good posture.
2. USE HALF AND TALL KNEELING POSITIONS WHEN EXERCISING. The central nervous system's main job is to reduce real or perceived threats of physical harm. Being close to the floor reduces the dangers sensed by the central nervous system while exercising to improve balance. And it just makes logical sense that if you struggle in these positions to balance, you won't have much of a shot balancing while standing. Both of these positions can improve glute strength, improve core stability, and help hip mobility (all huge factors in overall health and well-being).
3. FARMER'S CARRIES. Carrying and walking are simply fundamental human movements, so it makes sense to work on them in your exercise routine. This exercise will improve posture as trying to carry heavy weights in your hands with rounded shoulders is near impossible. It will also improve your breathing patterns, shoulder stability, balance (every step is a single leg stance), and grip strength. This exercise has a huge carryover from the gym to daily life and as such is a must for everyone.
4. HEAD NODS (moving your head up and down, and side to side, while on all fours). Where the head goes, the rest of the body follows. Similarly, the inability to control your head position will affect the way the rest of your body operates. In fact, the ability to hold your head up directly affects the way the vestibular system functions. All the other sensory systems rely on the vestibular system. In fact, without it, walking isn't possible. So strengthening the necks and focusing on proper head position will ensure all your balance systems work together to keep you upright. Head Nods help improve posture and reduce shear forces and compression of the neck. And this reduces the amount of pressure on the cervical nerves as they exit the spinal column so that they can work better.
5. ANKLE MOBILITY. Ankles are the foundation, the base, of your balance, posture, and mobility. They are tasked with sensing and responding to the constantly changing environment under our feet. The ankle is the first major joint to sense what's going on and it informs the brain via the nervous system so that the brain can then generate a muscular response. If your ankle isn't properly mobile, the brain does not receive adequate or accurate information to respond to your environment (think uneven pavement) and loss of balance may result.

OVAC's certified personal trainers are ready to help you improve your balance and cut your risk of falling by making you a stronger and more resilient person. Please email me at [email protected] for a referral to one of our trainers to ensure that you are ready to face the world head on (not head first).

 

AQUATICS NEWS

LIFEGUARDS

Labor Day will be the last day the Lifeguards will be on duty with the diving board open. Thank you for a safe and fun summer! We had zero incidents at our pool and we attribute that to prevention. With the lifeguard season over, please remain mindful of our pool rules and keep kids under 14 supervised at all times. A huge Thank You" to our 2021 Lifeguard staff! Head Guards: Ry Johnson, Caysee McCormick, Lifeguards: Wyatt Dingman, Mikayla Gomez, Josephine Hartman, Julian Kimura, Zela Henderson and Zyreth Guardado.

MORE GROUP LESSON CLASSES ADDED!

Additional Fall Group Swim Lessons: 2 week sessions on Mon/Wed or Once a Week on Fridays

$85 members/ $105 non-members (4 lessons)

Session 1: September 13th – September 22nd ( 4 lessons)
Session 2: September 27th – October 6th (4 lessons)
Session 3: Oct 13-20 (4 lessons)
Session 4: September 3-24 Fridays Once a week(4 lessons)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tadpoles Level 1 – Water Skills and Safety (ages 3-5)
Preschool and Beginners/Intermediate start breath holding, blowing bubbles with arm movements and kicking. Emphasizes water safety while having fun and gaining confidence.
Instructor: Bethany
Class capacity: 4
Times: 3:00pm – 3:30pm

Minnows Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills (ages 4 – 6)
Class requirements: comfortable putting face in the water can swim independently at least a few feet. This is an intermediate/Advanced class.
Focus on front and back glide, breathing, freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers gain endurance and stroke skills.
Instructor: Bethany
Class Capacity: 4
Times: 3:30pm – 4:00pm

Friday Lessons:
Once a week lessons every Friday in September: 9/3, 9/10, 9/17 & 9/24

Tadpoles Level 1 – Water Skills and Safety (ages 3-5)
Preschool and Beginners/Intermediate start breath holding, blowing bubbles with arm movements and kicking. Emphasizes water safety while having fun and gaining confidence.
Instructor: Bethany
Class capacity: 4
Times: 4:30pm – 5:00pm

Minnows Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills (ages 4 – 6)
Class requirements: comfortable putting face in the water can swim independently at least a few feet. This is an intermediate/Advanced class.
Focus on front and back glide, breathing, freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers gain endurance and stroke skills.
Instructor: Bethany
Class Capacity: 5
Times: 5:00pm – 5:30pm

Dolphins Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills (ages 6-11)
Class requirements: comfortable putting face in the water can swim independently 5 feet
Focus on front and back glide, breathing, freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers gain endurance and stroke skills.
Instructor: Bethany
Class Capacity: 7
Times: 5:30pm – 6:00pm