Fitness Connection

·         Connections—YWCA offers 60+ classes per week, many of them, such as chair yoga, chair salsa and balance stability, specifically geared to seniors who need to build strength.  For the more active, Tai Chi, yoga, line dancing and Pickleball encourage participants to gather and work out several times a week. This physical exertion and social interaction increase seniors’ physical abilities and especially create synapses and mental acuity.

·         Volunteer—YWCA frequently posts volunteer opportunities, and some seniors enjoy performing “out of the ordinary” tasks that would not be on their regular activities list.

·         Establish a daily routine—one of the most valuable aspects of YWCA’s Persimmon Club is that we offer participants the opportunity BOTH to join regular classes, helping them to establish and maintain a routine, AND attend informative and entertaining events. Many participants will come in to YWCA early for their regular workout or swim, and then return later in the day to attend a lecture or demonstration. All these activities keep our seniors young-in-mind and alleviate their tendency to loneliness.

·         Explore your sources of joy—studies show that one of the most effective ways to engage people and “pull them out of themselves” is to provide outlets for creative expression. The most popular creative activities recently are (a) rock painting—people are loving this! And (b) putting puzzles together. People who know each other, and people who don’t, sit around a table that stays set up with materials and work on the current puzzles as they have time and enthusiasm. Another a source of joy: learning stuff! The special events, classes and workshops entertain and educate participants.