WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — Tuesday mornings inside the Whitewater-Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC) in Beachburg are alive with music, laughter, fun and fitness. For one hour, starting at 10:30 a.m., the low mobility gentle fitness class helps those who find it difficult to stand for a full hour.
Classes are taught by fitness instructors Connie Tabbert in Beachburg and Betty-Mae Bryanton in Cobden. Participants alternate between sitting and standing, while working on cardio and balance with the use of a chair. According to Mrs. Tabbert, the exercises done in this class are well-rounded and give participants the option of staying at home longer. “It helps with daily tasks like reaching the top shelf in the cupboard,” said Mrs. Tabbert. “It also helps people get up and get going, to avoid sitting still all day.”
Sponsored by Western University, the classes are designed for participants to go at their own pace, with the aim being for gradual improvement towards a main goal. Participant Mona Ethier says she has been attending the classes “for two years if not more” and participant Keith Brown said he has been coming for about a year and a half. Both participants attend classes in Beachburg regularly and Mr. Brown also attends class in Cobden. Another Beachburg participant, Christina Heath, said she used to exercise at the school but found it was too intense. She enjoys this class much more, saying, “I love it. It keeps you motivated and gets you out of the house.” All participants especially enjoy the social aspect of the classes.
There were gentle fitness classes being held in Lapasse but they were cancelled due to low attendance. “The numbers are down this year, it was 10 to 12 [participants] and now it’s around five or six,” said Mrs. Tabbert. “We want to increase our numbers so we don’t lose the program.” The class participants agree they want to see more people coming out to take the class, especially because there is no cost for seniors.
The gentle fitness class is held twice per week at the WBCHC, Tuesday’s and Friday’s from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Beachburg and Friday’s from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Cobden. If you’re running a little late, just listen for the room emitting music, number counts and joyful laughter.
