Senior exercise program slated
Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services spearheads effort
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Friday, September 4, 2009 10:20 AM PDT
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| Lyn Lawrence (left), certified personal trainer at Fit For Life Health Club, demonstrates, to Diane Lopez (center) and Peggy Sheldon, both who work with senior programs at Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services, some of the exercises she will lead the senior citizens through during the new exercise program for seniors set to start Sept. 15 at the club. |
ONTARIO — The Malheur Council on Aging and Community Services and Fit For Life, Ontario, are teaming up to provide an exercise program for area senior citizens.
The program kicks off Sept. 15 at Fit For Life Health Club, 160 N. Oregon St.
Diane Lopez, senior nutrition manager at MCOACS, said the exercise program is free to those who are 60 years and older.
People age 55 to 59 are welcome to participate in the exercise program but a nominal fee will be charged. Also, it is open to Oregon and Idaho residents.
Lopez said she has been working with Fit For Life officials about the project for a few months, and they had held a fitness day.
“We need to provide more activities for seniors,” she said.
To start with, the exercises will be held at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, but it may be expanded to Thursdays and other days. Free transportation from Nyssa and Vale will be provided for the classes, leaving the Nyssa Senior Center at 9:15 a.m. and the Vale Senior Center at approximately 9:45 a.m., on the days the exercise classes are held.
“We want to do this twice a week,” Lyn Lawrence, certified personal trainer who will be leading the exercises, said. “We’re really excited about it. With a good response, it will be expanded.”
The exercise program is based on the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, focusing on endurance, strength, flexibility and balance, Lawrence said. The exercises will include doing some warming up, lifting light weights and stretching. Chairs will be available for those who cannot stand. They can do the exercises from a seated position, Lawrence said.
“I’ve worked quite a bit with seniors,” she said.
Although free, donations will be welcome to fund the program and keep it going. Having a large number of participants will also help keep in funded, Lopez said, but there is no guarantee on the federal funding.
For more information call Lopez or Peggy Sheldon, at (541) 889-7651, or Lawrence, at (541) 212-5560.
