Fun new classes are strengthening the fitness line-up at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center
Jennifer R. Demuth
June 11, 2011
286
For June 17, 2011 Edition
Web Summary: New fitness classes are now being offered at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center at Dover. For the summer only, participants can now enjoy a class at the Union Country Club pool.
Photos taken by Jennifer Demuth:
8022> Kelsie Baker, Fitness Manager and an instructor for the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, leads a new Splish Splash class for seniors at the Union Country Club pool at Dover.
8025>Tuscarawas County Senior Center Fitness Manager, Kelsie Baker, encouraged the ladies in her class to lift their knees toward their chests for exercise in the pool.
8030>Exercising in the pool is fun! Ladies from the Tuscarawas County Senior Centers Splish Splash class enjoyed a laugh while floating along and doing alternating leg lifts underwater. The class is part of a new line-up of exciting fitness programming.
Fun new classes are strengthening the fitness line-up at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center
By Jennifer R. Demuth
Fitness and fun are mutually exclusive, right? Thats not the case according to five women who recently enjoyed one of four new fitness classes that were added to the Tuscarawas County Senior Centers fitness program line-up. In fact, after finishing the new Splish Splash class at the Union Country Clubs pool, the women used words like fun, enjoyable and love to describe the experience.
I love being in the water, stated Splish Splash class member Karen Harriman of New Philadelphia. Its good exercise, and youre in the water, so youre not sweating. Its also relaxing. Whats better than being in the water? Its just great!
Fellow class member Trudy Schweitzer of Dover agreed and noted that shes really enjoyed meeting new people. She especially appreciates the new class at the pool because it eases her fibromyalgia pain. It limbers me up to start the day and gives me energy to get through the rest of my day, Schweitzer said of the class.
Carol Vrsan of Bolivar added that all of the senior centers fitness classes are helpful. We really appreciate the senior center and all that they do for us, she shared. Kelsie is a great instructor.
Kelsie Baker is Fitness Manager for the Tuscarawas County Senior Center located at 425 Prospect Street at Dover. Baker instructs several classes including the new Splish Splash class which has a focus on gentle exercises for increasing range of motion and strengthening. The class offers a mild cardio workout and is good for easing the pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Now through the end of August, Splish Splash is offered to senior center members on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 to 10:45 am and costs $17 a month to participate.
Splish Splash would not be possible without the support of the Union Country Club staff who has made the pool facilities available. We really want to thank the Union Country Club for allowing us to host this class, Baker noted.
In addition to Splish Splash, the senior center has added two other classes this month. For $17 a month, members can join the Cardio Mix class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:15 pm. The class mixes fun with fitness to increase cardiovascular and muscular endurance while delivering a total body workout incorporating step aerobics, dance, strength training and more. Another class called Walk the Block is free for members and meets on Wednesdays from 8 to 9 am for a fun group walk around the Dover area.
Beginning on Monday, July 18, the senior center will begin offering Zumba Gold classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6 pm and Thursdays from 4 to 5 pm at a cost of $5 per class for members. Zumba Gold takes the Zumba formula of fusing Latin dance and fitness together and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of active older adults as well as those just starting their fitness journeys. Its a fun, exciting and invigorating way to dance away stress and pounds.
In addition to the four new classes, the senior center also offers basic range of motion and strengthening classes, fitness and exercise machine orientations, yoga classes, and the Seniors Take Off Walking & Nutrition Program. Blair Powell, Tuscarawas County Senior Center Program Coordinator, said, We strive to offer a variety of classes so everyone can find something they enjoy doing and, most importantly, will stick with.
Fitness is important at any age, she added. We want to get our seniors up and moving. We want them to have fun and take care of themselves.
Powell said there are many member success stories including that of Alice Moore who participates in the Walk the Block program. Alice has lost 35 pounds since she began participating in various walking programs throughout the county, including Walk the Block.
Theres something for seniors of every fitness level, including a bike club led by Jim Bentley of Country Club Retirement Campus. Club members enjoy riding bikes on various trails throughout the northeastern Ohio area.
To become one of the 130 members who enjoy fitness classes at the senior center each month, county residents age 50 and older can join for $15 a year. There is an additional charge for fitness classes, with the exception of Fitness 1-3 classes, which are grant funded. Members can use the fitness machines, walking track, computer room and library during the senior centers hours from 8 am to 6:30 pm Mondays-Thursdays, and 8 am to 4:30 pm on Fridays. Seniors who need transportation and/or financial assistance are encouraged to call the center at 330-364-6611 for help and more information about the centers fitness programming.
