New to GPX: barre-x! Starts July 9.

Get ready to sculpt your body into the best shape it’s ever been in. The hottest new workout is now available at the Bellevue Club, and it’s part of our popular GPX program.

Barre-x workouts are a combination of yoga, Pilates and dance that tone, strengthen and stretch the body. The high-energy classes will help you firm, tighten and tone without adding bulk.

Our classes, including Booty Barre ™ and Flex and Flow are designed to get your heart pumping and burn mega calories while having fun. These workouts were developed by fitness and lifestyle expert Tracey Mallett, a regular contributor to leading health and fitness magazines and morning shows worldwide. These popular Booty Barre ™ workouts have been touted in Self, Health Magazine, Fitness Rx and iVillage.com. To learn more visit thebootybarre.com.

We are very excited to bring these unique classes to the Bellevue Club. They start July 9 and are included in your GPX membership. We’ll see you at the barre.

BC's James Penor Sensei takes first in NW Senior Games

During the last weekend in May, BC's karate instructor, James Penor Sensei placed first in long jump and second in high jump during the Northwest Senior Games.

"I wasn't sure what to expect; however, I found it fun, and all the competitors were real enthusiastic and positive."

James participated in track and field back in elementary school, and competed every year in the sport until the age of 14, when he jumped 14 feet. "I thought since it was an Olympic year, it woud be fun to reignite the spirit," he said. "The best thing about this weekend was that I met an old rival, competitor from way back in the day at the high jump pit, where we competed head to head."

James attributes his ability to compete in the games to all of the time he spends performing Martial Arts, training week after week.

Next month, on Monday, July 16, James will be teaching a self-defense class at the Club. He will teach the class with the street legal weapon his Sensei developed, the Kubotan. This weapon, a five-inch plastic or aluminum key chain, has been used by millions throughout the world, and with proper use, is both effective and practical for all.

No Martial Arts experience is necessary for the class. To reserve a spot, contact Membership Director Kaarin Keil at kaarink@bellevueclub.com.

Monday, July 16
7-9 p.m.
$30

BC Member heads to Miss Junior Pre-Teen Seattle

Lola Richmond

Bellevue Club member Olivia Marie (Lola) Richmond, daughter of Charlie and Kathryn Richmond, will be competing in the 2012 Miss Junior Pre-Teen Seattle Pageant on Sunday, June 17.

Lola earned her spot in the competition after an interview session with this year’s Seattle Pageant Coordinator. Now, she’s looking forward to the pageant, where she’ll be competing with other girls, ages 7 to 19.

She’ll go through rounds of interviewing and modeling, and if she were to win, she would represent Seattle and the surrounding area in the National competition in Orlando, Fla.

Lola’s sponsor for the competition, Washington Federal Bank, helps provide Lola with resources for training and rehearsals, and with financial support.

We wish Lola the best of luck in her upcoming competition!

BC members take home trophies

The Bellevue Club was well represented at the 39th annual Shorinryu Open Karate Championships May 5.

Anders Larson took second in kata for those 7 and younger; Charles Nguyen took second in weapons and kata, and third in kumite for 18 and older blackbelts; Noah Stratfold defeated his brother Isaac to take first in the 17 and under advanced kumite; Andrew Paley placed fourth in junior advanced weapons and Brian Nguyen placed second in kata and kumite.

Congratulations to all of our Karate Club participants!

Climb4Cancer

Member Joel Blatt is organizing the sixth annual Climb4Cancer to raise money for cancer research. This bike climb will follow the same route as the last five years--up zoo hill.

There are only 200 spots available, so be sure to register sooner rather than later for the July 21 event. Registration is free; however, it is strongly encouraged to make a donation before the event or during check in, with 100 percent of money raised going directly to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research.

• Start: Pine Ridge neighborhood; up one block from Newport Way/SE 54^th
• Finish: 100 meters before SE 60^th/Cougar Mountain Drive

Event is staged in the Pine Ridge neighborhood right off 54th.  It is probably 100 meters up 54th from Newport Way. Go to Google Maps and find Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, if you don’t know where it is.  Then use your Garmin, do repeats, and try and go sub-something.  Course record is Sub-11 minutes!

For more information, or to donate now, click on Climb4Cancer. 

Famed Woman Mountaineer and Author to Speak, Sign Books at Bellevue Club

Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Mount Everest, will be the keynote speaker at the Breathe Easy Breakfast at the Bellevue Club on May 16.  The event is a benefit for the American Lung Association’s lung health, clean air and tobacco control programs.

At the age of 22, Alison reached the top of Alaska’s Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America, and then climbed the 22,495-foot peak known as Nepal’s Matterhorn. She became the first American woman to summit the 24,600-foot Pik Communism.  And in 1988, after 29 days on the mountain, Alison became the first American woman to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 29,028 feet. She went on to become the leader of a successful expedition up K2, considered the most difficult peak on Earth to climb. Alison has written two books about her experiences.

Also at the breakfast, the American Lung Association will be announcing the A. Bruce Montgomery M.D. – American Lung Association Endowed Chari in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UW Medicine, and the Joanne and Bruce Montgomery in honor of the American Lung Association ARCS Endowed Fellowship at UW.

Individual tickets are $35, a table of 8 is $280, and a VIP table of 8 is $500. For more information visit www.breatheeasybellevue.org or call 206-512-3285.

Now in Polaris Grill: 3 for $28

Join us in Polaris Grill for our own take on the ever-popular Restaurant Week. Through May 12, get Chef Paul's special three-course dinner for just $28. And it's good:


First course (choose one)
Rogue River smoked blue cheesecake
Scallop ceviche
Brown butter-seared gnocchi
Chilled corn soup

Second course (choose one)
Smoked duck ravioli
Beef shoulder tenderloin
Grilled Hawaiian swordfish
Ginger-marinated pork tenderloin

Third course (choose one)
Banana, toffee, white chocolate cake
Tiramisu
Sorbet of the day

Available Saturday-Thursday, and reservations are required. Please call 425-637-4608. We'll see you in Polaris Grill!

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga

Sunday, May 13, 4-5:30 p.m. 

Law 7: Dharma or Purpose in Life 

Lin Lungata, an experienced meditator, educator and counselor, will be teaching The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga at the Bellevue Club. Each session will explore one spiritual law, meditation, readings, mantras and suggested practices to implement each law into daily life- a rich opportunity to go more deeply into self exploration and stillness.

$40 per workshop.

To register, email fitness@bellevueclub.com or call 425-688-3172.

NACAD Basketball Tournament

The Bellevue Club has three teams competing in the upcoming NACAD Tournament. Below is the tournament schedule for the BC games. Come by for a game and cheer on your fellow members to victory!

Friday, April 27
 9 a.m.
Olympic v. Bellevue (AA)

10:15 a.m.
SU north
Bellevue v. Los Angeles (A)

11:30 a.m.
SU north
Bellevue v. Olympic (Masters)

3:15 p.m.
SU north
WAC v. Bellevue (AA)

4:40 p.m.
WAC
WAC v. Bellevue (Masters)

Saturday, April 28
9 a.m.
Bellevue v. Detroit (A)

12:45 p.m.
SU south
Bellevue v. Milwaukee (A)

4:30 p.m.
SU south
MAC v. Bellevue (AA)

A new space for Bellevue's Moore Center

The Moore Center, an eating disorder clinic in Bellevue, recently opened their brand-new, 15,000-square-foot treatment facility. The center was founded by Bellevue Club member Dr. Mehri Moore, who said "The new facility is outfitted with all of the latest technology and provides our patients with a natural and peaceful treatment environment where recovery can be achieved."

The new facility includes two demonstration kitchens, a dining room, art studio, yoga studio, medical exam rooms and a classroom. The center has also expanded its staff, and now have more than 40 employees. 

The center first opened in 1991 and has treated more than 5,000 patients. Dr. Moore was profiled in Reflections Magazine in September 2007. You can read that profile here.

Congratulations Charles!

The Bellevue Club's very own assistant karate instructor, Charles Nguyen, just received a medal at the Ozawa Cup 2012 in Las Vegas. This international karate tournament had more than 700 competitors in various divisions from around the world. Charles competed in black-belt weapons and received first!

Congratulations Charles!

Now showing: The Art of Dr. Seuss

The Gunnar Nordstrom art gallery has a fun and unique exhibit running through April 28. Hold the hands of Thing 1 and Thing 2, eat some Green Eggs and Ham, and come see "Secrets of the Deep—An Exhibition of Works by Dr. Seuss."

This exhibit is an expanded look at the legacy of Dr. Seuss, and features images created from his nearly 70-year career.

For more information, contact the gallery at 425-283-0461 or read more here.