Are you ready to feel the burn?

Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie — it tastes so good on Thanksgiving, but the sinking reality of how many calories are involved with the feast may leave some feeling somewhat depressed the day after.

The good news is that you don’t have to let the holiday wreak havoc on the waistline. Local health and fitness clubs are hosting a community-wide Turkey Burn workout from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 27 at the Petaluma Community Center.

The Turkey Burn offers locals the opportunity to try four different fitness classes for $25: pilates, aerobics, kickboxing and yoga. And to top off the good exercise vibe, the event is also a fund-raiser for the Committee on the Shelterless.

Pilates Plus Studio owner and instructor Carol Appel came up with the idea for the Turkey Burn four years ago and has held it at her studio on a smaller scale.

Appel has been teaching pilates for 27 years and opened her studio in Petaluma four years ago. From the beginning, she felt compelled to do something positive for the community that would not only be fun, but also help an organization that does so much for the needy. Her goal, however, was to turn it into a larger community event involving other health clubs in town.

“I started it because I wanted to offer a charitable workout after Thanksgiving to benefit COTS and the Petaluma Kitchen,” said Appel. “We got lots of positive response to it, but my vision was to make this a citywide event. It’s a fun time for a great cause.”

Appel’s dream for the Turkey Burn is coming to fruition this year as The Redwood Club, Club One Fitness and Maldonado’s Renew have teamed up with Appel to host a larger event.

Petaluman Joy Powell has participated in the Turkey Burn at Appel’s studio in the past and was instrumental in helping the event rise to the next level.

“I contacted local health clubs about it and we also got some good sponsors,” said Powell. “The folks at COTS are very excited about this and we hope to get a lot of people coming to raise a lot of money for COTS.”

The Turkey Burn is open to anyone of any fitness level, including those who just want to check out what a class is like. Participants can choose to take just one class or all four.

“They will be catering to all levels of fitness,” said Powell. “So, even if you’re a beginner, they will show you ways of modifying and making it work for you. It’s going to be great for newbies who want to check things out. It’s a great lineup of classes and instructors.”

Powell said that Whole Foods will be providing goody bags for participants. Petaluma Village Premium Outlets is also donating discount gift books for participants, along with Stink Boutique, which will be providing discount coupons.

“These are some nice treats to reward people for coming out and doing a good thing,” said Powell.

The Turkey Burn begins with a pilates class from 8 to 9 a.m., followed by aerobics from 9 to 10 a.m., kickboxing from 10 to 11 a.m. and yoga from 11 a.m. to noon.

Turkey Burn participants should dress for a workout and are asked to wear athletic shoes and bring a yoga mat. The cost is a donation of $25 or $20 with a donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries. All proceeds benefit COTS.

“The goal is to get 200 people to come,” said Powell. “We’re also hoping to make this an annual event — a tradition in Petaluma for the day after Thanksgiving.”

“Things are hard for COTS,” Powell added. “They really suffer during times like this, and going into the holidays, things get even worse because demand is up from people struggling. We hope to be able to fill some of that gap.”

For more information and to reserve a spot, call 778-3552.

(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier. com)