While golf and boating may be some of the most popular recreational pursuits enjoyed by Tellico Village residents when the weather is warm, the community offers a wide range of healthy activities during the winter months.

“I see people who are active inside, outside and both,” Jadan Macon, Wellness Center manager, said.

The Wellness Center, which includes an exercise room featuring strength training with free weights and cardio training equipment, a therapy pool and a lap pool, sees about 300 people people per day year round, Macon said. Instruction on use of the cardio and weight equipment is available at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 19.


Tennis and pickleball courts are located outside the center and are in demand during winter months by those who don’t mind if the temperatures are a little bit lower than usual.

For those who don’t like chilly weather, a breadth of low-impact, dance-based exercises are available in the fitness rooms.

“We’ve just introduced ‘Let’s Dance’ in January,” Macon said.

The program is based on Zumba dance featuring a mix of current pop and Latin tunes. No dance experience is needed. Also new is the intermediate Line Dancing program at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Yin Yoga is available at 1:15 p.m. Tuesdays.

But it’s never too cold to swim in a heated pool, Macon said.

The Wellness Center features a 75-foot by 225-foot pool that is home to the Silver Tarpon Swim Club. Instruction in swimming is conducted by Tellico Village resident and former collegiate swimmer Dennis Stanczuk. A free “flip turn” skills and drills clinic was held earlier in the week, and similar skills workshops are periodically available.

Chota Recreation Center offers a gym, racquetball and tennis. Tennis Group play is offered Wednesdays and Fridays, while Therapeutic Yoga Plus is available at 11:15 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Lynn Spalding is teaching the class that creates a sense of overall ease by keeping the body nimble and mind calm. The program builds strength and flexibility. The program also offers chair work and standing balance work. Participants are asked to bring a mat and a yoga strap or gentleman’s tie.

For the more adventurous, TRX Fusion — a mix of boxing drills, yoga and TRX and taught by Recreation Director Simon Bradbury — is available at 9:15 a.m. Mondays at Chota. Sunrise Yoga Fusion — a blend of vinyasa, hatha, Pilates and yin yoga — is taught by Bradbury at 8:15 a.m. Mondays.

Shelia Borders, extension agent for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, said Loudon County in general and Tellico Village specifically is blessed to have many outdoor hiking trails that can be used all year.

Jim Golden recently moved to Tellico Village from Arizona. An active outdoorsman who once worked as a guide in Alaska, Golden is getting to know the trails that wander though the Village.

“I love walking after a workout in the gym,” he said.

Bradbury leads hiking tours known as “Hike the Village” on Fridays during January. The three-mile hikes are open to all skill levels and begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Timeless Tellico trail kiosk next to the Wellness Center.