By Maureen Schweers
ALEXANDRIA, VA- Known for its top-rated fitness studios, holistic health professionals, and the neighborhood’s healthy vibe, Del Ray earned the nickname “Well Ray” — the inspiration behind the community’s annual health and wellness festival on June 22.
The 6th Annual Well Ray Festival will take place on Mount Vernon Avenue in the heart of Del Ray, with free fitness demonstrations and classes along the Avenue. With over 60 health and wellness vendors, there are a wide variety of opportunities for festival-goers of all ages and fitness levels to explore, heal, move, taste, and listen. Here are The Zebra’s can’t miss festival picks:
Discover Your New Favorite Workout
Well Ray features free fitness classes in a range of disciplines and for all ages and fitness levels, led by some of the top fitness professionals in Del Ray and the surrounding area. Classes include yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, spin, barre, dance, and more for both adults and children; visit www.wellraydelray.com for the complete schedule.
Free Health Screenings and Consultations
A wide range of medical professionals region will offer free health consultations and screenings, including blood pressure checks, body alignment, nutritional analysis, B-12 shots, and Q & A with doctors.
Be A Ninja
Parkour — the sport of moving rapidly through urban environments, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing — was brought to Alexandria by the team at PK Move, this year’s featured non-profit at Well Ray. “We are the only nonprofit that brings parkour, the art of traversing your environment, to special populations, mainly Title I schools, and older adults,” said PK Move founder Nancy Lorentz. The program creates a workout from any environment, and has been proven to help reduce falls for seniors. At Well Ray, PK Move “will bring new obstacles, more obstacles, and lots of fun games,” said Lorentz. “The PK Move Team is totally dedicated to bringing parkour training and ethos to everyone.”
Reach New Heights
After a sweat session during a free Pilates, spin, or Crossfit class, reward yourself with a view from top of a rock climbing wall, or take a spin down low during the annual big wheel races — both are fun for all ages!
Jump In The Ring
Work off stress with free group boxing classes with Foundation Fitness, “something that anyone, at any level could enjoy,” according to Foundation Fitness owner CJ Wesby. “We focus on making sure we understand the needs of our clients and exceed them,” said Westby, whose fitness studio is located in the heart of Del Ray. “It’s about the fit. Goals, personality, commitment. It has been the cornerstone of what we do.” Learn more at foundfitpt.com/del-ray-va.
Rediscover Your Fit
The demands of motherhood often mean women put their own wellness on the back burner. At Well Ray, moms can bring the kids along and try out a free demo class with FIT4MOM. “We help mom find her fit at every age and stage of motherhood,” said FIT4MOM owner Jennifer Lungren. “We provide mom the support, community, and self-care she needs during pregnancy, postpartum and throughout every stage of her motherhood journey, we believe these moms will raise healthy, strong families.”
Connect Mind, Body, and Spirit
The wellness community in Del Ray firmly believes that wellness is more than just physical fitness. Four Directions Wellness, affiliated with the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, specializes in helping individuals intuitively connect to body, mind, emotions and spirit. “There is tremendous wisdom within us and it is all connected,” said Four Directions Wellness founder Mara Benner. “When you listen to your intuitive guidance, it supports your optimal health, healing and overall wellness.” During Well Ray, Four Directions Wellness will offer free, 10-minute intuitive energy readings, where Benner will explore your energetic chakras, and provide an analysis of the mind-body connections that show up.
Get Creative
Stop by the Del Ray Artisans for their June exhibit Art in Meditation – The Chakras, which celebrates the seven energy centers of the body, which are associated with vibrations, moods, and colors, and are frequently used in yoga and meditation practices. In celebration of Well Ray, the Del Ray Artisans will offer a wide range of wellness programs throughout the month of June, including group meditations, workshops on painting the chakra energies, gong sound meditations, and a chair yoga class. Visit www.delrayartisans.org for more information.
