It has come to my attention that The Villages Recreation Department has recently changed their policy on regulating the temperature in exercise classes held in their facilities.
I attend six classes a week at Eisenhower, Lake Miona and Rohan Recreation Centers. Because we all need to stay active to maintain our health.
I am not a golfer, or a pickleball player. But, I too, pay for my use of these facilities through my amenities fee, monthly.
In all of my classes we do different forms of aerobic exercise. In doing so my heart rate goes up, I get sweaty and I workout hard enough to reach the aerobic level, just like all my fellow attendees.
Up until recently the Recreation Centers would lower the temperature in the rooms we are exercising in to 68 degrees. And it was relatively comfortable to exercise in that range of temperature.
When these rooms are completely filled with participants, they get rather hot.
So hot that, without lowering the temperature, the rooms will heat up to dangerous conditions and could cause people to pass out.
Now they are setting the temperature in these classes to 72 degrees and all recreation center staff have been told not to lower the set temperature for any and all activities in these rooms. And they are rooms in which the exercise classes are held.
This is a policy that puts attendees in dangerously high temperatures that can cause participants to pass out, or faint. And believe me, it’s a risk the Recreation Department should not take, now that it’s been brought to your attention.
I have asked myself why have they changed the policy regarding safe temperatures for exercising, in all the Recreation Centers? And the only reason I can come up with is due to the cost of properly cooling these facilities.
By slowly lowering the temperature in these rooms prior to exercise classes, it will not cause any problems or damage to the system. And it will not cause molds to form, either.
Why are those of us who exercise in these rooms not afforded the same rights of cost vs use, as maintaining golf courses, pools, and or pickle ball courts? We all pay a monthly amenities fees.
So why are we not as important as our fellow neighbors that enjoy other forms of exercise? Why are we being put in danger, due to the very high temperatures these rooms will reach?
Is the Recreation Department making a hasty decision that puts many people in danger of passing out? Is it possible they are trying to save money on the backs of people who choose to exercise indoor at these Facilities? And the only answer I can reach is, yes they are.
I am writing to alert attendees to this issue, as it’s only going to get worse when Spring and Summer approaches. And I hope other people will also write a letter to ask for an immediate change to this poorly thought out policy.
Please Mr. Rohan, reconsider this new policy. Keep all of us safe while using recreational facilities, not just the chosen ones that use outdoor facilities to exercise and recreate.
Help us all to have a safe environment to exercise in, no matter indoors or out.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Teresa Streb is a resident of the Village of Lake Deaton.
