Sunday, May 5, 2024
ON THE MOVE: Enhance Fitness is an evidence-based group exercise program for older adults that uses simple, easy-to-learn movements that motivate individuals — particularly those with arthritis — to exercise regularly.
A new fitness class at the Hood County YMCA is motivating older adults to stay active.
Enhance Fitness is an evidence-based group exercise program for older adults that uses simple, easy-to-learn movements that motivate individuals — particularly those with arthritis — to exercise regularly.
The free beginner exercise class is geared toward those who have a chronic condition, such as arthritis, but the program is suitable for any adult — especially those who have never exercised before.
“In every class, they will do a warm-up and then they will do 20 minutes of cardiovascular activity like aerobic exercise. They do a little cooldown and then they do 20 minutes of strength exercise. At the end, they do 10 minutes of stretching,” said Ruth Murillo, coordinator with the Fort Worth YMCA. “It has a little bit of everything. It kind of touches on all those different components.”
Each class session includes cardiovascular, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises, as well as the fostering of strong relationships between participants, according to ymca.org.
The exercises are dynamic, but participants are encouraged to move at their own pace and can use chairs for support, if necessary.
According to ymca.org, participants in the Enhance Fitness program have noticed many changes like more energy, better balance, increase in upper and lower body strength, more flexibility and range of motion, better sleep, more feelings of happiness and a sense of independence.
In addition to the physical benefits, research has shown that among older adults who participate in Enhance Fitness, health costs were lowered each year by close to $1,000, according to ymca.org.
“I would say a lot of people with chronic conditions and especially those with arthritis are intimidated to get active, but we know from science that those who are able to get more physically active actually experience less pain and are less likely to have a fall,” Murillo said. “It really plays an important role in improving their health and this program is specifically designed for those individuals who are maybe new to exercise or scared to exercise because of fears that they may have, and so it's really a great program for them to just get started with exercise in an environment that is designed to help them be successful and improve their health.”
The class is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Hood County YMCA, located at 1475 James Road.
Enhance Fitness runs on a 16-week cycle in a rolling enrollment, but participants are able to repeat the program as many times as they would like.
A fitness assessment will also be performed when participants join the class and will be repeated at the end of the fourth month to track their progress.
Up to 25 people can join the program, but if enough interest is shown, an additional class will be added.
“We have a cap of 25, but if we had a need, we would add an additional class,” Murillo said. “We don’t want to ever turn people away.”
The program is completely free and participants do not need to be members of the YMCA to join in the class.
“They don't have to register in advance. They can register the day of and they can just show up to the Y and say that they're there to try out Enhance Fitness and they're welcome to come in,” Murillo said. “Anybody is welcome to come and try it.”
For more information, call the Hood County YMCA at 817-573-7159.
