In conjunction with Taylor's 40th anniversary as a city, we present the Ten Days of Health, a series of activities designed to give residents and non-residents an opportunity to try something new, have fun and learn about healthier lifestyles.

Activities are scheduled for Oakwood Heritage Hospital, city parks, the Taylor Recreation Center, Lakes of Taylor Golf Club, the Taylor Sportsplex and both municipal swimming pools.

The list of activities during the Ten Days of Health is followed by a list of "other healthy options" in the city.

Thursday, May 22 – To encourage extra healthy play while you golf, the Taylor Golf Department is offering free use of a hand pull cart to golfers that want to walk instead of drive a cart at Lakes of Taylor and Taylor Meadows May 22-31. The usual rental fee is $4 per hand cart. To book a tee time, visit www.taylorgolf.com.

Friday, May 23 – De-stress Vin-Flow Yoga is offered from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Fridays at the Taylor Recreation Center, 22805 Goddard Road. Also available are Hatha Yoga classes from 6:30 to 8 p.m Mondays and Wednesdays and Gentle Yoga from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For rates and other info, call (734) 374-3906.

Saturday, May 24 – Zumba is a fusion of Latin and international music and dance themes creating an effective fitness system. It features aerobic and fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body. Try it today at the Taylor Recreation Center for $6 as a drop-in or sign up for a whole session for $40 for Taylor residents. Hours are noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more info, call (734) 374-3906.

Sunday, May 25 – Public ice skating is available every day at the Taylor Sportsplex, 13333 Telegraph Road. (Well, every day except days when high school graduation ceremonies are scheduled.) Hours are 1 to 3:50 p.m. Sundays. There is a lunchtime skate starting at noon or 1 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. The lunchtime skates are only $2 on weekdays. Adult drop-in hockey and “stick and puck” sessions also are available. Info: (734) 374-8900.

Monday, May 26 – It’s Memorial Day, a great day to hit one of Taylor’s wonderful parks. If you’re in the mood to walk, the walking path around Heritage Park is 1.2 miles. The path around Boardman Park is 7/10ths of a mile. For a scenic tour, consider walking the path in the historical village around Coan Lake. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Tuesday, May 27 – A Senior Golf Clinic is set for noon to 1 p.m. May 27 at Lakes of Taylor Golf Club’s Learning Center. Head teaching pro Paul Faverio teaches how to get the feel for tough shots near the green and make “one putts.” The fee is $25 per person. No appointment is necessary. There will be a golf clinic every weekend throughout the summer at Lakes of Taylor. For a complete list, visit the Web site www.taylorgolf.com/lakes/page/Clinics+and+Schools-23.html.

Wednesday, May 28 – Oakwood Heritage Hospital in Taylor invites everyone to participate in the “Walk for Health” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the campus of the hospital, 10000 Telegraph Road. The fun and educational event will feature a leisurely walk through the 8/10ths of a mile loop on the beautiful hospital property. Sports medicine athletic trainers will be available to answer questions and “challenge” participants regarding health in a low-pressure sort of way. All community members are invited for guided tours of the hospital as well.

Thursday, May 29 – Pilates is designed to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles while increasing flexibility and improving balance. Try it today at the Taylor Recreation Center for the drop-in fee of $6 or sign up for an eight-week session for $40 for Taylor residents. Hours are 5:15-6:15 p.m. or 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays and 6:40 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays.

Friday, May 30 – Try out one of two aerobics classes available on Friday mornings at the Taylor Recreation Center. Bootcamp aerobics, which is set for 8 a.m., is a high-intensity military-style workout. Step Circuit Aerobics, which starts at 9:30, features high-intensity step movements incorporating weights and tension bands. Aerobics are offered every day at the center. Stop by for a schedule.

Saturday, May 31 – Taylor’s municipal pools open for the season. The pools are open Saturdays and Sundays from May 31-June 15, then daily beginning June 16. Open swimming is scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. every day at Northwest Pool. Open swim at the Sheridan Community Center pool is set for noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and noon to 7 p.m. the other days of the week. Pool passes and classes are available. Call (734) 374-3906.

Other Healthy Options

The All-You-Can Eat Soup and Salad Bar is available for just $5.95 Mondays at the Greenside Grille at Taylor Meadows Golf Club. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (734) 287-9002.

The annual Relay for Life takes place from 10 a.m. May 31 to 10 a.m. June 1 at Heritage Park. The Relay is the signature event of the American Cancer Society and raises money and awareness of cancer research and patient programs. Teams of family, friends and co-workers take turns walking the track around Coan Lake. For more information, contact Fran Wood of Skore Lanes at xfwood@chartermi.net or Sue Shufeldt at (313) 282-8757.

Try a Tae Kwon Do class offered by Heritage Martial Arts at the Taylor Sportsplex. Tuesday and Thursday classes are 6 to 7 p.m. for beginners and 6:30 to 7:30 for advanced students. Cardio classes are available 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the TSX and 7 to 8 p.m. at the Recreation Center. Info: (313) 770-5678 or www.heritagemartialartscenter.com.

Monthly and annual memberships are available to the Taylor Recreation Center. Sign up May 27 to June 6 for a discount three-month membership. Taylor residents with ID pay just $50. Non-residents pay $75. This is ideal for college students home for the summer or those interested in trying out the center.

Registration is under way for Ballroom and Latin Dancing, which hits the dance floor of the Taylor Recreation Center in June. Certified instructor Tonia DeLiz of DeLiz Danceports will teach this fun couples class for beginners. Choose from 7 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 9 p.m. Friday classes, starting June 6. The class is presented by the Taylor Cultural Arts Commission. For pricing and other information, call (734) 374-3906.

Summer All-Sports Camps are offered at the Sportsplex to children ages 6 to 12. The goal is to provide a fun, safe and entertaining atmosphere with an emphasis on participation, exercise and skill building in a non-competitive environment. Sports may include soccer, ice skating, floor hockey, kick ball, inline skating, flag football and lacrosse. Call the TSX at (734) 374-8900.

Registration is under way for indoor soccer programs at the Taylor Sportsplex. Six-week Parent-Tot and Kiddy Kickers soccer programs starts June 9. For more information, visit the TSX or call (734) 374-8900.

The Taylor Sportsplex 2008 Summer Figure Skating School gets under way June 16. To program is offered to all skaters of all levels working on freestyle moves or dances. Register today. For the complete schedule, call Annette Bowman at (734) 374-8900, Ext. 4211, or visit the web site www.taylorsportsplex.com.

Registration is taking place for the Taylor Dance Summer Workshops at the Recreation Center. The workshops include a fun-filled week of learning the fundamentals of ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and Hawaiian dance. Sessions start July 14. For more information, call (734) 374-3904 or visit www.taylor-dance.com.

Registration is under way for a variety of golf clinics. New clinics begin every week. For drop-in clinic times or to register for scheduled clinics, call (734) 287-2100 or visit www.taylor.golf.com.

The 2008 Friends 1K MS Walk, which raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, is set for June 21 at Heritage Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m. in the east section of the park near the ballfields. For more information, call (313) 299-0119.

For more activities year-round, visit the City of Taylor Web site at www.cityoftaylor.com.