Senior get pumped up at Mt Si Senior Center classes
December 31, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Susan Hankins used to get her exercise through swimming and aerobics. These days, however, she’s found a better way to keep in shape.
Hankins has joined S.A.I.L. — an acronym for Stay Active and Independent for Life — a program coordinated by the Mt Si Senor Center and the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.
“I’m still really active, but my aerobics wasn’t doing it,” said Hankins, who battles rheumatory arthritis.
The program was developed by the Northwest Orthopedic Institute in Tacoma after examining the results of a three-year project called the Washington Department of Health Senior Falls Prevention Study. Snoqualmie Valley Hospital became involved with S.A.I.L through a grant from the Washington Health Foundation in 2006.
“We are interested in preventing falls for the elderly,” said Nancy Rickerson, director of Rehabilitation Services at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. “The whole point is for fitness and to remain independent.”
The hour-long class is held at Mt Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. Classes cost $3 and are led by Carla Orellana, who also teaches yoga and belly dancing in North Bend. The next class will be Jan. 5. To learn more, call the senior center at 888-3434.
North Bend resident Cathy Brumbaugh began taking the classes when they first started in June 2007.
“Before we moved here, I did a jazzercise class,” Brumbaugh said. “Then I had arthroscopic knee surgery and had to hold back on all of my exercises.”
A friend alerted Brumbaugh to S.A.I.L., and now she attends three times a week, often with her husband Harley.
“There’s no embarrassment if you can’t do something,” Brumbaugh said. “Over the years, people have come who have just come out of surgery or illness. (The instructor) was very good at saying ‘when you start, don’t overdo it.’”
S.A.I.L. exercises are aimed at keeping older adults fit and independent. Approximately one-third of older adults fall at least once a year and one in ten of those results in an injury requiring hospitalization.
With faltering vision and hearing, some older adults need an extra boost to stay in shape. Weight-bearing exercise also slows bone loss and helps keep osteoporosis at bay as participants strengthen their muscles and improve their balance.
The class consists of a warm-up period to gradually increase both heart rate and circulation. before the 20-minute aerobics portion. Adults get in the zone as the music pulsates.
“I’m really excited because I have a huge variety of music,” Orellana said, describing her collection of swing, rock and roll, fun fifties and melodies from around the world.
During aerobics, participants can walk briskly around the classroom, swing their arms, touch their elbows to their knees and step-kick to the rhythm.
Next, the instructor combines the balance workshops with the cool down process.
“The balance work is really great,” Hankins said. “You walk heal toe and sometimes we use balls. We pretend like we’re walking over logs.”
Hankins admitted she initially felt skeptical about the class, thinking it would be too easy and not worth her while.
“But that is not the case, it’s very rigorous,” Hankins said. “It’s as rigorous as you want it to be.”
The class concludes with strength training and flexibility workouts. An education component at the end teaches participants how to stay safe at home. Bright lighting, hand railings, clear pathways and shoes with good tread can help prevent falls and injuries.
“It’s a fun, low-impact class to improve flexibility, coordination and self confidence,” Orellana said. “It’s a great way to have fun and get oxygen in your lungs and make some new friends.”
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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