By Matt Pegouskie

Looking for ways to move your body and expand your horizons this winter? The Village of Stockbridge and the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC) have you covered! In November, SAWC allocated $5,800 to the Village to provide recreation programming at no cost or low cost for the community. As a result of the funding, several opportunities to gather are available to Stockbridge area residents each week through March.

As an example, in January, the Village hosted weekly art and yoga classes, line dancing instruction, cardio drumming sessions, indoor pickleball and a sledding station.

“We’re thrilled to offer these programs to our community. Winter can be a challenging season to stay active and social, so this funding allowed us to provide a variety of free or low-cost activities that are simple to join and accessible to everyone,” said Heather Armstrong, Stockbridge Village manager. “Whether it’s yoga, pickleball, painting, line dancing, or sledding, there’s something for people of all ages to enjoy, and it’s a great way to stay connected with neighbors and friends!”

Classes continue as the calendar turns to February, and it’s never too late to join the fun. Sessions are free, with the option to tip teachers or contribute to their equipment funds. Following is the schedule through the end of March, as it stands now:

• Cardio dance: Mondays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Village Hall. Free*.
• Cardio drumming: Mondays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall. Free*.
• Line dancing: Mondays, 7 to 8 p.m. at Village Hall. Free*. NOTE: No class Feb. 2 or March 2.
• Yoga: Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. at Village Hall. Free*.
• Guided hands-on art projects: Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. at Village Hall. Please register in advance to reserve your materials. Email Debbie at stockbridgeparks@vosmi.org .
• Cardio drumming: Fridays, 7-8 p.m. at Village Hall. Free*.
• Vinyasa Flow Yoga: Saturdays, 9-10 a.m. at Village Hall. Free*.
• Indoor pickleball: Fridays, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Heritage School. Free. NOTE: No session Feb. 13.
• Sledding station: Locatedbehind Smith Elementary. Always open, weather conditions permitting. Free. A few loaner sleds are available at the hill on a first come, first served basis.

*Where indicated, the program is free; gratuities are welcome but not required.

Those interested in an early spring challenge can look forward to the Couch to 5K session coming up in March. Follow the Village of Stockbridge on Facebook at facebook.com/StockbridgeMI for more information about classes as well as schedule updates.

Funding is provided by 5 Healthy Towns Foundation as part of its support of Wellness Coalitions in Dexter, Chelsea, Grass Lake, Manchester, and Stockbridge (which includes Munith and Gregory). The Foundation made $90,000 available to Stockbridge and the other 5 Healthy Towns in April 2025. Funding decisions are made by SAWC on programs that address eating better, moving more, and improved mental well-being. As of mid-January, the coalition has $62,900 left for their grant allocations; the funding expires in March 2028.

Stay tuned for our March article to see a recap of the Coalition Open House that was held on Jan. 20  and to take a look at some data from the 5 Healthy Towns Survey conducted in late 2025.