Exercise that’s Good for the Heart and Soul
Contributed by Randi Perlman
The human body was designed for movement, and the more we move, the better we feel. At Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI), there’s a whole lotta movement going on every Monday through Friday. WASI’s Club50 Fitness Center provides healthy-aging classes for individuals 60 years of age or older such as Strong Seniors, Yoga, Bingocize, and Tai Chi at various times throughout the weekdays, and these classes are FREE!! That’s an amazing value and benefit to anyone choosing to get moving, get healthier, and feel better.
The classes are led by trained volunteers who enjoy both the benefits of regular exercise and guiding participants through the specific movements. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie in each of the classes, and everyone knows each other by name. Some folks are loyal to one particular class, while others ‘cross-train’ and take several different classes on different days. There are even training aids available, like leg and hand-held weights, exercise balls, hula hoops (remember those?), and ‘noodles’. If you want to know what noodles are, come try a class!
While most classes are free, Club50 also has exercise equipment such as treadmills, recumbent bicycles, bench press and others. For unlimited use of that equipment, there is a small monthly fee of $10 with a WASI membership or $15 for non-members. For more information on Club50, call 907-206-8807.
Class members often share how much better they are feeling and doing since starting to work out at Club50. Some of these shared stories are truly amazing and inspiring to those around them. Ray Fackrell says exercising at Club50 has really helped him. Two years ago he couldn’t get up the stairs without one foot and then the other while holding tightly onto the banister. Now he says, “I go up those 16 stairs without using the banister and not putting one foot and then the other!”.
Marguerite Guest has been exercising at WASI’s Club50 for many years. She says, “I’m 73 and I can still lift 40 pounds of dog food!”. For over sixteen years, Guest has also been a trained Leader of the Strong Seniors class and feels that commitment has really helped her become more social, get out of the house, and keep her exercising. “When you are leading others, there’s an accountability that has been very beneficial for me”. The classes are extremely important to Guest and keep her feeling stronger.
WASI is always looking for people who would like to be a class Leader. Some of their current Leaders are in their mid-80s. Anyone can become a trained Strong Senior Leader by taking a one-day class given by the Cooperative Extension. If you have a particular dance or different type of exercise class you’d like to teach, contact Club50 to discuss the possibilities. Guest would love for someone to come and teach ‘Laughter Yoga’. Apparently when we laugh, good-feeling endorphins are released, and as the name implies, it sounds like great fun!
As Guest mentioned, another plus about coming to WASI is socializing and enjoying good company over both exercise and good food. If you work up an appetite after your exercise class, you can enjoy a healthy, delicious meal for a suggested donation of only $6 per person! Where else can you eat a balanced lunch surrounded by friendly folks for a price like that these days…??
Do your heart and soul a favor and come explore what WASI, and Club50, have to offer. It’s a valuable asset to our community, and to our own health and wellbeing. Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1981 with a mission to provide for the lives of seniors living in the Matanuska Susitna Valley and to enable them to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Contact WASI’s main office at 907-206-8800 or visit www.wasillaseniors.com.