New England Baptist Hospital

Kyle George

addByline("Yordan Villalon","Celtics.com","Celtics");

ROXBURY, Mass. – The Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, located in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, focused on the tricks this Halloween and ignored the treats.

The group of adults are part of the Sr. Celtics program presented by New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH). Sr. Celtics is a fitness initiative that provides residents of Mission Hill access to specialists at NEBH to learn about maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

The roaring of over 150 participants, combined with their costumes, scared away any doubts of a healthy lifestyle being attainable due to age.

Leading the surge was the 6’10” red-bearded Celtics center Aron Baynes in a convincing Viking costume along with Celtics legend Tom “Satch” Sanders and Celtics mascot Lucky.

Also lending their expertise were NEBH Sr. Vice President Mary Sullivan Smith along with members of the medical staff for both a Halloween-themed exercise class and fitness presentation.

“We are proud to support the Sr. Celtics program,” said Smith. “Increasing access to exercise and keeping all of us moving are keys to enhancing quality of life. I was happy to participate in today’s event. We are committed to working together with the Boston Celtics to improve the overall health of our community over the long-term.”

From moderate monster mash arm exercises to intense zombie high-kick walks participants worked up a sweat.

Baynes alternated between the participants performing the moderate exercises and the vigorous movements.

“It’s good to be able to get up and get moving with some of these fun and festive activities,” said Baynes. “But, the important thing is the knowledge and health tips these Sr. Celtics are receiving here – it’s definitely impactful and will stretch well past the one-hour timeframe of this event.”

Later on, at the fitness presentation, the 8-time NBA Champion Satch provided insight on how he handled getting up from a recent fall and how he is working on preventing them in the future by focusing on arm strength.

“It’s important for us as we age to continue to lift weights and maintain strength,” stated Satch.

The dynamic workout was concluded with a fantastic dunk show by Lucky and the Celtics Dunk Team.

Together, the Celtics and NEBH will look to continue their efforts to promote health and wellness throughout the greater Boston Community by offering additional Sr. Celtics classes in the upcoming months.

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Aron Baynes Leads Sr. Celtics Through Halloween-Themed Workout

Marc D'Amico

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ROXBURY, Mass. – Elderly adults of the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, located in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, put down the sweets this Halloween and picked up the dumbbells.

The group of adults were participants in the Sr. Celtics program presented by New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH). Sr. Celtics is a fitness initiative that gives residents of Mission Hill access to physical and nutrition specialists at NEBH to learn ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The class on Halloween night took a spooky twist as the Sr. Celtics dressed in their favorite costumes to celebrate the holiday.

The themed fitness class led by NEBH staff stressed the importance of exercising regularly to improve one’s health and decrease chances of bone deterioration.   Through a 10-step workout, the seniors participating in the workout learned exercises they could do in the comfort of their home on a daily basis.

Bringing the energy to get the group workout going were Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, legend Satch Sanders and mascot Lucky.

From monster mash arm exercises to zombie high-kick walks, participants worked up a quick sweat.

Brown, sporting his Richard Simmons Halloween getup, interacted with the seniors in attendance and provided instruction along the way.

“It’s inspiring to be here with the Sr. Celtics,” said Jaylen Brown. “So many people came out to this event to learn more about fitness and nutrition. It’s great to see their drive to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Later on in the fitness course, Sanders provided insight on how he keeps a lean, low-cholesterol diet.

An NEBH nutritionist on hand also shared a few tips on how to purchase healthy food at low cost.

“As a longstanding partner with the Boston Celtics, we are proud to support the Sr. Celtics program,” said president and CEO of NEBH Trish Hannon. “Increasing access to exercise and keeping seniors moving are keys to enhancing their overall quality of life--mentally and physically.”

A night of up-tempo aerobic exercises was another positive step forward for the Celtics and NEBH as they work together to promote health and wellness throughout the greater Boston community.

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Jaylen Brown Joins NEBH at Sr. Celtics Event

Boston Celtics

2016-shamrock-gala-presented-by-new-england-baptist-hospital

2016 Shamrock Gala presented by New England Baptist Hospital

Taylor Snow

MISSION HILL, Mass. – In October, the National Basketball Association launched an expansion of its youth basketball programming through the establishment of the Jr. NBA.  The multifaceted platform aims to teach the fundamental skills, as well as the core values of basketball at a grassroots level in an effort to grow the game.

The Jr. Leadership Council consists of many highly regarded influencers of the game, including Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Through his involvement on the board, Stevens provides guidance to fellow instructors regarding the importance of teaching basic fundamentals and not over-coaching young, developing athletes.

On Saturday evening, Celtics players Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas set out to put their coach’s advice to work.  Crowder and Thomas put on their best Stevens impression as coaches at the annual launch of the Celtics’ youth development program, Jr. Celtics.

The Jr. Celtics initiative, presented by New England Baptist Hospital, has been active in the local Boston community during the past five seasons.  Rooted with a similar mission to that of the Jr. NBA, the program challenges more than 800 third- through fifth-graders to develop their basketball game through skills, drills and leadership training.

Participants of the program’s first session gathered at Madison Park High School in Mission Hill, Mass., equipped and ready to set their benchmark scores at the clinic. Leading them through the Celtics-approved drills were Crowder and Thomas.

Crowder and Thomas led the youth through the drills, demonstrating each technique before letting the athletes try out the drills at their respective stations. The pair of Celtics circled the gym giving tips and words of encouragement, and even jumped in and participated in a few of the drills themselves.

“It is so great to just be out here motivating the kids,” said Crowder. “Seeing them enjoying the game and taking what we said and putting it into action is as rewarding to Isaiah and I as it is to them.”

Following the energetic workout, the young athletes were tasked with improving their performance in the program drills at their respective sites for a chance to attend a Celtics game as a Jr. Celtics All-Star.

“Today, we went over the basics,” explained Thomas, “dribbling, shooting, effective defensive stances, as well as the importance of taking care of your body. At the end, the kids all had smiles on their faces and that is what it is all about!”

Crowder and Thomas together with New England Baptist Hospital successfully helped to grow the game of basketball Saturday night with the next generation of local student-athletes.  Who knows, maybe Crowder and Thomas have a future following in Stevens’ footsteps.

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Crowder, Thomas Hold Jr. C's Clinic in Mission Hill

MISSION HILL, Mass. – The spirit of Halloween centers around superstitions, enchantment, and everyone’s favorite – trick-or-treating.  For more than 80 senior citizens from the Mission Hill community, the holiday took a healthier spin this year at the launch of the Sr. Celtics fitness initiative.

Program presenter, New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH), is a nationally recognized institution specializing in orthopedics and musculoskeletal care. The Boston-based hospital applies its expertise in the field of wellness to the Sr. Celtics program as part of an ongoing commitment to keep all members of the surrounding community healthy by remaining active and staying social.

On Thursday evening, Boston Celtics swingman Evan Turner, legend Tom “Satch” Sanders, and mascot Lucky joined NEBH fitness instructors Kimberly Castro and Bryan Truscott as guest coaches at the first workout of the season.  While attendees sported their Sr. Celtics workout gear, the fitness instructors brought the energy by gearing up in Halloween costumes in the spirit of the themed exercise class.

The instructors led the participants through specially designed stretches and weight training exercises focused on increasing daily activity to delay the process of muscle deterioration.

“Increasing access to exercise and keeping seniors moving are key to enhancing quality of life,” said Trish Hannon, president and CEO of NEBH. “We are committed to working together with the Boston Celtics to improve the overall health of our community over the long-term.”

During the workout, the instructors continuously stressed that one does not need to attend a sports club or own high-tech equipment in order to participate in a high-impact workout at home. They demonstrated by using sugar pumpkins as kettle bells, towels as exercise bands and a chair as a tool to assist with stretching.

Once the class was over, each Sr. Celtic received two dumbbells and a step-by-step exercise guide to take home.

“The workout was a little tough,” claimed Turner.  “Stretching gets harder as you get older so we really pushed it today.”

As the official hospital of the Boston Celtics, the community activation with NEBH remains focused on encouraging the community to live an active lifestyle during all stages of life.

“There is no age barrier in sports, said Turner.  “It is important to stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle at any age.”

Get active with the Sr. Celtics at home today by downloading the exercise guide from the program page on Celtics.com.

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Turner, NEBH Lead Halloween-Themed Workout

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ROXBURY, Mass. – For the third installment of Sr. Celtics, presented by New England Baptist Hospital, more than 40 elderly adults gathered for a dance class at the community health center at the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard (RTH) Community Center in Mission Hill.

The room was buzzing as participants entered the dance studio and received their Sr. Celtics t-shirts and headbands. Up to this point, workouts had focused on weight lifting and strength training, so participants who had attend other Sr. Celtics events were excited to hear they would be learning some new ways to stay active.

Leading the class was Celtics Dance Team Director Marina Ortega alongside Celtics mascot Lucky, dancers Sarah and Jemma and eight-time NBA Champion Tom “Satch” Sanders.

Before the workout began, Ortega shared some insight as to why she wanted to host a dance class for the program.

“I was inspired by watching you guys weightlift and be so enthusiastic about staying healthy,” explained Ortega, “that I thought, no better way to keep it going than to move those hips!”

All of the participants were excited to begin after the rousing introduction from Ortega.

The smiling participants moved to the beat of the music in unison as Ortega and the Celtics guests led participants in stretches and warm-up movements intended to prepare their bodies for dance.

When the class was ready to move forward, Ortega introduced dance steps she uses on a daily basis with her team. Within minutes, the entire room was in motion as they locked in and responded to the routine.

By the time the first half of the event was complete, the class was ready to perform in front of the Garden crowd that night.

Participants then cooled down for the second portion of the event, during which they had the opportunity to ask health and fitness questions to the Celtics guests. One question from the audience led to a unique dance story from Sanders.

The Celtics legend explained that when he was the head coach of the Celtics in the 1970s he attempted to bring the team to a ballet class in the North End, hoping to improve their footwork and balance.

“The warm-up of the ballet class was harder than our practices were! All the players left after that and we didn’t go back,” Sanders recalled.

The participants certainly empathized with his remarks, as some were still catching their breath from the dance routine.

To close the event, the class was treated to a mini dance performance from Jemma and Sarah.

At the conclusion of the afternoon, one message was clear: movement is important at any age, so do your best to stay active every day!

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Celtics, NEBH Host Dance Class for Sr. Celtics

addByline("Taylor Kielpinski-Rogers","Celtics.com","Celtics");

BOSTON (February 28, 2015) – Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder, forward/center Kelly Olynyk and Celtics legend Tom “Satch” Sanders met up with grade-school students and senior citizens from Mission Hill and other Boston communities on Saturday to participate in the first annual Jr. and Sr. Celtics event.

Hosted by the Boston Celtics and New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH), the program encourages both the junior and senior communities to improve the quality of their lives through exercise and movement.

As part of the Jr. Celtics program, more than 250 children – ranging from third through fifth grade – from 13 local youth organizations participated in a basketball clinic with Olynyk. Participants practiced their basketball skills through demos and drills while learning about the Jr. Celtics program and how their efforts can lead to incentives, such as game tickets and other Celtics experiences.

Simultaneously, 30 seniors from the Sr. Celtics program participated in a group exercise class led by Crowder, Sanders and NEBH staff. The elderly adults learned fitness tips, practiced exercises and received fitness equipment that can be used at home, in an effort to encourage maintaining an active lifestyle.

“It’s awesome to come out here and do these events,” said Olynyk.

“The kids love it. They get really excited. When you have the power to put a smile on kids’ faces it���s really special. It’s also really neat to see the senior citizens out here being active as well. That was a cool twist on the event. That’s not something you see every day.”

Following the separate exercises, the Jr. and Sr. Celtics groups joined together for a celebration by taking part in a fitness activity inside the Madison Park Gym.

“It is great to see the Celtics putting on this kind of exhibition and working with the juniors and seniors at all levels,” said Sanders.

“It is fun for them and helps spread an important message of taking good care of their bodies.”

At the conclusion of the event, participants were treated to a dunk show put on by Celtics mascot Lucky the Leprechaun.

“We are thrilled to expand our Jr. Celtics Program to include seniors this year,” said Trish Hannon, president and CEO of the New England Baptist Hospital.

“As a hospital that specializes in musculoskeletal care, we are committed to keeping all members of our community healthy, regardless of their age, by being active, staying social and keeping moving.”

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C's Host Inaugural Jr. and Sr. Celtics Event

ROXBURY, Mass. – Saturday afternoon more than 300 third- and fifth-graders from the greater Boston area braved the wintery elements and headed to the Madison Park High School gym for the first Jr. Celtics basketball clinic of 2015.  The clinics are presented by New England Baptist Hospital.

Entering the building, the youth were greeted and given a Celtics headband and T-shirt to make sure they had all the right gear to embody the feel of a true NBA player.

Through a partnership with Up2Us, a community leader in youth development through sports, the athletes were each assigned to a coach and a station for group stretching and brief warm-ups.  In addition, service members from the Army Labs in Natick volunteered alongside staff to provide additional coaching support.

The Jr. Celtics participants were then introduced to two special guest coaches.

The gym exploded with cheers as Celtics guards Evan Turner and Marcus Thornton jogged onto the court and acknowledged the crowd. Both were on hand to provide the young athletes their professional basketball expertise.

To begin, the Celtics players focused on defense.

“Defense wins championships,” Turner exclaimed as he addressed the crowd on the importance of the skill.

To help demonstrate proper defensive stance and perform a Foot Fire Drill, Turner and Thornton called upon help from six eager athletes.

After the demonstration, participants split off to their assigned hoops to practice the drills to improve their foot speed.

Next, the Jr. Celtics shifted their attention back to center court to review the next skill - ball handling.

“I work on my ball handling everyday,” Thornton shared with the kids. “It’s a skill you can always get better at.”

Turner and Thornton each grabbed one volunteer from the energetic crowd to help demonstrate a ball handling drill called the High Five Drill. The drill challenges players to keep their heads up while dribbling by stressing the need to high five a teammate during the duration of the activity.

The Celtics players worked together with their Jr. Celtics partner and playfully challenged each other to see who could high five their partner ten times at the fastest face.

With the gym buzzing from the friendly competition, the athletes were ready to practice themselves. Each kid was supplied with his or her own Jr. Celtics basketball for the ball handling session to complete a series of intense ball handling drills.

Turner and Thornton navigated their way through the gym spending time with each group and instructing the youth on various techniques before moving on to the final skill.

The final skill covered at the clinic was shooting. Turner and Thornton each shared insight with the young athletes as to how they became great shooters.

The two sharp shooters concluded their lectures by asking a volunteer to join them to exhibit correct shooting form. One brave participant stepped up to the task while the Celtics guards worked to perfect her technique.

Participants then moved back to their drill stations and worked on a variety of shooting drills and games.

Seeing that the Jr. Celtics were improving with every shot, Turner and Thornton challenged the groups to make ten baskets as fast as they could. The teams raced against time to see who could complete the Celtics challenge first. The two guards rushed to the winning station to celebrate as soon as the final shot swished through the net.

Before the clinic was over, Thornton shared a secret about his pregame routine.

“I always have to make a shot from half court before I go into the locker room for a game,” he said.  Thornton then asked the crowd, “How many of you think I can make a half court shot right now?”

Turner chimed in when only about half the audience responded, “If he hits this shot everyone who didn’t raise their hand has to do ten push-ups!”

On cue, Thornton drained his first shot from half court, nothing but net! The crowd went wild and the kids who hadn’t raised their hand were good sports and gave him 10 push-ups.

It was a fitting conclusion to cap off all of the hard work the Jr. Celtics had put in that day. As they left the gym, both Turner and Thornton encouraged the youth to practice the drills they had learned and put in the work to get better every day.

All of the Jr. Celtics in attendance will participate in a series of basketball workouts over the next four weeks, with the top scoring and most improved participants receiving tickets to an upcoming game.