We all have a strong desire for a life centered around well-being. But just exactly what well-being means is different for everybody. For many, it could revolve around fitness and being active. For a person fighting a chronic disease such as diabetes, it means getting the support and education to help lead life to the fullest. For new parents, well-being may involve find resources to nurture and raise children who are strong in both mind and body. To others, it could mean living in a community where troubling social issues such as obesity are being actively address and residents have a place to go for education and answers.
This is the primary reason New BraunFit was created. The facilities, classes and services of New BraunFit are designed to provide the tools necessary to promote a healthy lifestyle and foster well-being for life. From fitness and nutrition, diabetes education, physician presentations, health screenings, and most everything in between, McKenna New BraunFit is your community resource for wellness.
Classes to promote community health and wellness.
Having the right knowledge, facts and resources is vital to making smart decisions relating to improving ones
well-being. As part of the mission to help improve and promote community health and wellness, McKenna
New BraunFit offers a wide range of free classes, seminars and information.
New parents can help give their child the best possible start in life with New BraunFit parenting classes such as Precious Minds, New Connections.
Car seat installation clinics improve safety for newborns and children while increasing peace of mind for parents. Those battling diabetes can find ways to manage the disease through specialized cooking demonstrations and educational seminars. Physicians make regular presentations on health topics of interest to the community. Safe Sitter classes gives pre-teens and teens the skills to become safe, nurturing babysitters. Frequent health fairs and screenings not only serve as a forum for information but also help detect unknown health problems. There are virtually thousands of hours of classes, seminars and workshops devoted to health and wellness presented by McKenna New BraunFit annually. For an up-to-the-minute calendar, just log on to the McKenna New BraunFit web site at newbraunfit.org.
New BraunFit offers many other classes. Click here for current schedule. 
Learn from the experts how to properly install your car seat and protect your child. Call for an
appointment.
Practical tips for purchasing car seats
Before shopping, take the following measurements in your vehicle
- After adjusting the driver’s seat for the tallest driver, measure the distance between the back of your front seat and the back seat.
- Measure the depth of your back seat.
- Measure the car safety seat you are interested in purchasing
- Recline the infant seat to the proper angle. (See the angle adjustment guide on the side of the car safety seat.)
- Lower the carrying handle to the edge of the seat (head end) before measuring the seats total length.
- Make sure the car seat measurements fit the measurements of your vehicle.
- At least 80 percent of the car seat base must fit on your vehicles seat.
- Select a model that allows you to tighten the safety harness from the front
- Choose fabric seat covers.
- Many seats have breathable microfibers which are cooler and stain resistant.
- Avoid heavy fabrics such as corduroy.
- Five-point safety harnesses are safer than three-point harnesses.
- Select a buckle style that has only two separate pieces.
- Purchase a model with a head support (if you like this option). It is not safe to add a head support to a car seat.
- Ask the store to allow you to try out the model in your vehicle.
- Extra bases can be purchased for a seat that allows you to use one seat in different vehicles.
- Consider using one layer of non-skid shelf liner under the car seat to prevent sliding.
- One rolled up towel or a "funoodle" under the edge of the car seat helps adjust the angle.
- Consider using a rolled up diaper or hand towel between harness buckle and groin.
Visit these web sites for further helpful information:
www.nhtsa.org
www.safekids.com
www.aap.org
The Precious Minds New Connections Program, an initiative funded by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, offers FREE
parenting education and support for families throughout pregnancy until age three.
The Precious Minds New Connections initiative is aimed at promoting the research and development of services for early
child development through parenting education. The goal of Precious Minds New Connections is to affect the life of
every child born in our funding area in a positive manner.
Precious Minds New Connections strives to help give your child the best possible start in life!
Programs Include:
- Parents as Teachers
- The Early Years
Parents as Teachers (PAT)
Parents as Teachers is a parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their
child turns three. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can easily capture the
teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child’s language development, intellectual growth, social
development, and motor skills.
PAT families receive:
- Personal Visits
- The parent educator will share age appropriate child development and parenting information, help the parent learn to observe their child, and address parenting concerns.
- Parent Group Meetings
- Great opportunities to share information about parenting issues and child development. Parents learn to support each other, observe their children with other children, and practice parenting skills.
- Screenings
- Assess the child’s overall development as well as health, hearing, and vision.
- Resource Network
- Links to other community services.
The Early Years is a group based program that emphasizes active learning techniques that empower parents to
become their own problem solvers. The sessions, taught by certified educators, offer activities that give
parents an opportunity to share ideas, support each other, study current research in parenting practices,
and work together as a team to find answers to their questions. Classes are offered FREE of charge at
McKenna New BraunFit. Children engage in age-appropriate activities while parents participate in group-based sessions.
Topics presented include:
- Common Patterns of Growth and Behavior in Young Children
- Helping Babies Build Brains
- Supporting Development (Birth to six years)
- Supporting Learning through Play
- Children and Books—Keys to School Success
- Promoting Positive Behavior in Young Children
- Choosing Child Care
Safe Sitter Classes
This class teaches boys and girls ages 11 to 13 safe and nurturing child care techniques, behavior management
skills, and appropriate responses to medical emergencies. Safe Sitter is a 2 day, 12 ½ hour course that
includes Babysitting as a Business, Success on the Job, Child Care Essentials, Safety for the Sitter, Injury
Management, Preventing Problem Behavior, Care of Choking Infant, and Care of Choking Child. It also
covers Preventing Injuries and Behavior Management and Infant and Child CPR.
The course is taught over 2 consecutive days from 9am to 4pm at the McKenna Center. Please bring your lunch
and a drink. A complimentary snack will be provided. Participants must be 11 years of age by the date of the
course they choose. Cost is $75 per person.
Click on the New BraunFit class schedule for upcoming dates.
Located in the heart of New Braunfels, McKenna Center is truly the center of activity for New BraunFit. Its two full size gymnasiums and meeting facilities provide a unique destination for health and wellness oriented programs for all ages. Along with scheduled classes, the gym facilities also offer open times to allow participants to create their own fitness regimens. The meeting and classrooms of McKenna Center provide a forum for not only New BraunFit’s programs but serve as a “town center” for groups and activities representing the entire community.
New BraunFit Gym provides this health facility for all ages with scheduled programming, open gym times and private rentals.
Participation in all scheduled programming is free with your annual membership:
- Youth (Ages 1-15): $15
- Adult (Ages 16-54): $15
- Senior (Ages 55+): $12
- Diabetic: $12
As a New BraunFit member. You have the opportunity to get a personalized nutrition plan FREE, a $120 value. Ask for
your 2 FREE certificates for individual Nutrition Consults with our Registered Dietician when you join.
Download, fill out and mail in your application today. Or call New BraunFit at (830) 606-9527.
PDF of Membership Application
From high-energy cardio workouts to Tots in Motion classes for toddlers, New BraunFit offers something for everyone to enhance physical fitness. Senior classes increase flexibility and strengthening exercises and includes blood pressure, weight and glucose/cholesterol checks. Activities for children promote physical fitness and healthy food choices. There’s even a military inspired workout guaranteed to boost the body’s energy and metabolism to new heights. Pilates, organized walking, and yoga-inspired Mind & Body classes are also offered.
Most adult classes are conducted by certified personal trainers who assist participants in setting goals, tracking goals and staying motivated. Programs change throughout the year with new ones being introduced on an ongoing and seasonal basis.
Click here for an up-to-date calendar and details on class dates and times.
Designed for those new to exercise and the active older population. A fun, low-impact workout that includes a warm-up and stretching, then 25 minutes of light cardio activity moving to the beat of music. We then add 15 minutes of strength training, using your choice of hand weights. The class finishes with an abdominal workout and cool-down stretching.
(Level 1 and 2 classes)Fun class to grow your preschool child in the area of body awareness. We accomplish this through hoops, games, parachutes, and very basic tumbling skills such as: rolls, cartwheels and body positions. (squat, straddle, pike, butterfly, lunge and bridge)
(ages 2-4)Come and have fun with mom or dad with age appropriate games and activities.
Create balance in the body through the development of strength and flexibility by performing poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits.
(ages 9-14)This class teaches kids a healthy approach to life. Learn from our Registered Dietitian what types of foods are needed to nourish our bodies to maintain a healthy weight. Prepare healthy snacks during each session. Learn fun games and activities from our certified personal trainer that you can incorporate in your daily lives. Four class series- $20. Scholarships available. Class begins the 1st Monday of each month.
(School age, M-F 4-6 pm)–This open gym time is designated for school age kids (grades 3-12) to come together under the supervision of New BraunFit staff for fun and fitness in a safe and positive environment.
Walking is one of the most recommended forms of physical activity. Pedometers are available at the front desk. Miles and strides recorded upon request. Walkers with the highest mileage and best attendance will receive weekly recognition and a chance to win a quarterly prize. The Walking Track is available during open hours.
Features flexibility, strengthening, and cardiovascular exercises plus a Fit Tip of the day. Class participants receive the following complimentary checks : blood pressure, glucose/cholesterol and weight.
Learn the basics of line dancing consisting of turns, walks, grapevines, step touches, heel struts, and more. Great for the mind, spirit and body. Please wear smooth soled shoes.
(ages 18-24 months)– Come and have fun with mom or dad with age appropriate games and activities.
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Get fit at New BraunFit Gym! Call (830) 606-9527 or stop by today for more information.
New BraunFit Gym is located in the McKenna Center at 801 West San Antonio Street in New Braunfels.
Link to map
Click here for an up-to-date calendar and details on Get Physical class dates and times.
Click here for an up-to-date calendar and details on Learning for Life class dates and times.
The New BraunFit Gym is available for rental at specified times to New BraunFit members. It’s the perfect location basketball, volleyball, and a myriad of other fun team sports or fitness activities for companies, organizations and individuals.
Call New BraunFit at (830) 606-9527 for complete information on availability and rates. Download a
rental application for more details.
PDF of Rental Application.
Filling a Need for Lifesaving Medications.
The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs has kept lifesaving medications out of the hands of many who depend on them. McKenna Prescription Access was created to help those in need find ways to afford and receive necessary prescribed drugs. The program assists the elderly, the non-insured, the under-insured and those with financial needs and is a reflection of the McKenna commitment to enhance the well-being of our community.
A Free Service
McKenna Prescription Access is a free service and works by helping qualified participants access patient
assistance programs offered by most major drug companies. Using advanced software, Prescription Access
team members keep track of the different programs and their guidelines and matches patient needs with
available benefits. They also help applicants fill out the necessary forms required to receive their
prescription medications. The program is open to all qualified Comal County residents with physicians
in New Braunfels.
It’s important to note that McKenna Prescription Access does not dispense medications. Instead, they are sent directly to physicians’ offices or to a local, participating pharmacy. Delivery may take 8 to 10 weeks. Also, not all drugs are available through the program including pain medications, vitamins, antibiotics and testing supplies. Some pharmaceutical companies charge a small fee for the drugs and there is a $5 dispensing fee if medication is picked up at the pharmacy.
McKenna Prescription Access could be just the medicine for you.
If you feel you qualify and would like to take advantage of the free services of McKenna Prescription
Access, download an application and mail in the completed form. Please read carefully and be sure to
fill out all the information requested.
For more information on the McKenna Prescription Access (a service of McKenna New BraunFit), call (830) 606-9527.
From I-35:
- Exit 186 in New Braunfels, Texas.
- Travel west on Walnut Avenue.
- Proceed through one traffic light at Business 35.
- Take a right at the second light (San Antonio Street.) You will pass two streets. McKenna Events Center is on the right, at 801 West San Antonio Street between Santa Clara and Willow Streets.
- Park in front and enter through front entrance.
Click here for Google interactive map.
©2009 Google - Map data ©2009 Tele Atlas
801 West San Antonio Street
New Braunfels, Texas 78130
P (830) 606-9500
F (830) 606-9535
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