Local wellness businesses host free outdoor Earth Day event.

Earth Day in Motion is a morning of free drop-in wellness workouts loaded with perks for the planet on Sunday, April 24 from 8am - 11am. Held in Gordon Park, the event will include tips and techniques from 20 local businesses on how to improve physical well-being and the well-being of the planet, too.

Organized by the La Grange Business Association, the morning is designed to heighten awareness of the global movement of sustainable self-care and draw attention to how our individual actions impact the planet.

Experts from local fitness businesses will be on-hand to lead free workouts in the park, including kick boxing, yoga, core strength, meditation and more. Residents are encouraged to participate in one workout or all of them.

Plus, participants can get practical tips on how to live a more climate-friendly lifestyle. From planting a tree to starting a compost bin, and recycling workout gear to ditching plastic water bottles, local experts will be on hand to provide information on how to live more sustainably. Free tree saplings will be available, while supplies last.

The event is held with the support of the Village of La Grange and the Park District of La Grange and is presented by Just Lift Fitness, a local wellness business with a mission of enhancing the community through fitness and health. "Earth Day in Motion is about taking care of your environment: your body, your home, your neighborhood," said Jackie Errico, the owner. "It's important for each one of us to get active, get out and get involved."

The morning's activities complement the global message of Earth Day 2022 and the importance of building a healthier future by investing in our planet. Sustainability is one of the top ten business trends of 2022, according to Forbes magazine.

"This has been a year with lots of challenges and lots of changes," said Nancy Cummings of the La Grange Business Association. "The pandemic has taught us that what we do individually has an impact on others around us," she said.

Earth Day in Motion Participating Businesses:

Boyce Chiropractic, Club Pilates, The Dailey Method, EnergyGirl, Energetic Intentions, FitGive Movement, Go Green La Grange, In Motion Counseling, Just Lift Fitness, Kuma Health and Wellness, La Grange Environmental Quality Commission, Loyola Center for Fitness, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Momentum Power Food, Plymouth Place Senior Living, Orangetheory Fitness, Park District of La Grange, Posey Law Group, and Sara Goggin Young.

Summer Theme: Sustainable Art Exhibit:

Earth Day in Motion is the kick-off to the business organization's seasonal theme of a summer of sustainability, highlighted by an outdoor public art project which is sponsored by the Park District of La Grange and displayed from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The art exhibit is called Earth Day Every Day: It's Cool to Care. It will feature 30 colorful rain barrels that are designed by local artists, sponsored by local businesses and displayed on the sidewalks of the business district. Each rain barrel will also display a QR code that links to a directory of sustainable initiatives and resources in the community such as cork, shoe and Styrofoam recycling.

The rain barrels will be auctioned off from the West End Arts Festival on Saturday, September 10 to benefit local nonprofit organizations.

Event updates can be found at lagrangeevents.com.