Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990 TAG: 9006270133
SECTION: SENIOR STYLE PAGE: SS-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That means you have to get involved.
For seniors, there are a number of fitness and entertainment groups that allow you to do just that.
For fitness in Roanoke County and the New River Valley, probably one of the most popular groups to get involved with is a walking club.
"Everyone involved with walking clubs really put a lot of energy into it," said Shirley Travis, an extension specialist in Adult Development and Aging and a professor at Virginia Tech. "It's low-impact and a really great exercise."
As a registered nurse, Travis also said walking is a great form of aerobic exercise that promotes cardiovascular fitness. It's an exercise that causes the heart and lungs to work at a higher rate continuously to supply oxygen to the muscles.
Over time, this can increase the efficiency of the cardiovascular system.
The larger walking clubs are sponsored through hospitals and are held indoors at places such as the New River Valley, Tanglewood and Valley View malls.
Sue Moore, coordinator of the Center for Adult Life at Community Hospital, oversees the walking club at Valley View.
The club began in July 1985 as the first program of the adult life center. It's start also coincided with the opening of the mall.
The club mirrored other walking clubs at malls throughout the country, and Moore said she worked closely with mall management to get it going.
Today, there are 2,300 members with 300 to 400 people walking each day at any given time.
"People join not only for the fitness aspect, but to be with other people," Moore said. "A good part of the club is social."
Moore said members make new friendships, since all age groups are walkers, and renew old ones with someone they haven't seen in 40 years.
The mall doors open at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. A nurse is also present to answer health questions and to administer blood pressure screenings and monthly glucose and cholesterol screenings.
"By having a walking club in the mall, there are fewer worries," Moore said. For instance, there's no traffic, dogs, bad weather, pollution or hills.
There are also places to sit if you are recuperating from surgery and need to start slowly.
"And there's always a cup of coffee available," said Moore.
Aerobics is another activity that promotes fitness.
Senior centers throughout the area offer various low-impact classes, like the Christiansburg Senior Center on Montgomery Street, a division of the Christiansburg Department of Parks and Recreation.
They require a doctor's certificate for senior aerobics at the Armory every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Warm Hearth Retirement Village in Blacksburg offers its own light aerobics classes Monday and Thursday, as well as its own walking club.
Many local YMCA branches, or community colleges, also offer programs.
Check with your doctor before you start.
Gardening is another activity that's entertaining, fun and physical. Check with your local garden club or with Master Gardeners.
The Master Gardeners program consists of volunteers trained by the Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia Tech to provide an effective network of gardening programs and activities.
Community and volunteer work are part of what make this program worthwhile.
"Seventy-percent of American households deal with gardening in some respect," said Diane Relf, state extension specialist in consumer horticulture at Virginia Tech.
After completion of a two-month course, students provide 50 hours of volunteer work in either the extension office or in other approved jobs.
For example, volunteers man the phones, maintain the Smithfield Plantation, work on campus gardens, conduct research and give information to children at schools.
"We help with 4-H gardening projects and summer fairs," Sara Hester, an extension agent, said.
"We have a lot of other plans, too, in youth development."
Also for entertainment, many seniors who can play an instrument join local bands and singing groups. These can be found in churches, through senior centers and maybe even in the classified ads.
Don't limit yourself. Explore all the possibilities. Square dancing and folk dancing groups, and even cloggers, need music. Call and offer your services.
And remember: besides walking, aerobics and gardening, there are many social clubs, museums, children's groups and child-care centers to get involved with.
No matter what your preferences are, there is a group for you.
by CNB