This September, South Suburban is encouraging our community to celebrate Self-Care Awareness Month. We’re in the business of helping our neighbors live happier, healthier lives, and we’re proud to provide facilities, outdoor spaces and programs to make that vision a reality.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits, both physical and mental, of parks and recreation services and spaces. Regular physical activity, whether it’s in your favorite weekly class at a recreation center or exploring a new trail on your bike, improves cardiovascular health, promotes healthy weight, and much more. Spending time in nature has been shown to decrease the impacts of depression, stress and anxiety while nurturing a connection to the environment around us.

If you’re not already taking time to show yourself some love, now is the perfect time to start. You’ll thank yourself later! Join a drop-in group fitness class to connect with new friends, feed your creative spirit with an art class, or enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings at your favorite park or trail.

Spend a little time each day this month to focus on your interests and health to experience the benefits of self-care. Here are just a few of the many classes and programs coming up that can help:

• Drawing with Pencil Studio, Lone Tree Hub
• Zentangle Method Art, Sheridan Recreation Center
• STAR (South Suburban Therapeutic Adaptive Recreation) Music and Dance, Buck Recreation Center
• Drop-In Mat Pilates, Lone Tree Recreation Center
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Goodson Recreation Center
• Forest Bathing, South Platte Park
• Therapeutic Massage, Goodson Recreation Center

Stay tuned to South Suburban’s Facebook page for self-care videos, tips and more all month long.