Sliver Sneakers: Are they heavy?

"This class keeps me on my toes," noted Brianna, as she directed the senior group in the activities of the Silver Sneakers program. Brianna is also one of the Individual Trainers at the YMCA, but she dials the intensity of exercise down a few notches for this program. Still, the range of motion and activities mirrored those in many other classes, but at an intensity level individual for each participant.

The five members of the class all knew each other well and there was a lot of good-natured  banter between the members of the class and the teacher. In fact, Brianna laughingly noted that it is sometimes hard to keep the group on track. While the program is not intensive physically, it is very important. The activities provided help in  the maintenance of ADL (adaptive life skills) for some of the members. As such there are activities that you wouldn't ordinarily do in other programs, i.e. exercises to make the hands and fingers more flexible to ward off the effects of arthritis. Many of the activities are completed while sitting on a chair or standing beside it so issues of balance are dealt with safely and anyone with knee problems can participate without undue pain. The equipment included light weights, flexible straps and a small rubber ball and the weights and straps were of different weight and tension to account for individual differences. While it wasn't like Zumba, there was music and you could do exercises in rhythm if you liked.

The class may keep the instructor on her toes, but she also kept the members using theirs as while setting we did some foot rotation exercises to maintain and improve flexibility.  Many of the members of this class also attend one of the water exercise classes at the Y and the combination of the two programs is ideal. If you are a senior, or if you have a serious injury or pain issues, this class would be perfect for you. There is no impact on the joints, activities are adjusted for individual differences, the instructor is knowledgeable and really nice and the participants are friendly.  Sneak on in; you will be welcomed.