Exercise for Life program helps seniors stay active

Retired KY3 weather man and St. John’s PremierPlus spokesman Tom Dye and his wife Joy say the secret to aging well is simple: “eat right and keep moving.”

The Dyes are “mentor” members of the bicycling component of St. John’s Seniors Exercise for Life, a fitness program that includes bicycling, park walking, guided trail hiking, spinning classes and strength classes.

Members can participate in as many activities as they wish, and all fitness levels are welcome, says Valerie Griffin, St. John’s Seniors program coordinator. She adds that the program may expand to include kayaking and camping.

“As the baby boomers are turning 60, we’re seeing a whole new generation of older adults becoming interested in fitness for the first time, or wanting to continue the fit lifestyle they’ve been living,” Griffin says. “That’s why we have ‘mentor’ members who teach and coach the new members. We understand that many of these folks are not retired yet, so we’re trying to schedule activities before and after work or the weekends.”

St. John’s Seniors has partnered with Ozark Greenways for the biking club, which includes informational sessions on bike safety, purchasing a bike, injury prevention, training for the MS 150 and getting in shape for a biking vacation.

“Not only do we want to get people out exercising, we want to teach them what they need to know, so they buy the right bike and adjust it for their body type, know how to avoid getting hurt and how to train for events such as the MS 150 or a bike trip,” Griffin says.

The weekly trail rides will continue through the winter. Helmets are required and no one is left behind, she adds.

WALKING PROGRAMS

For those who enjoy morning walks, St. John’s Seniors’ park walkers program meets every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at one of Springfield’s parks. For more intense walking, St. John’s Seniors’ guided trail hiking program, in cooperation with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, includes trips to area recreation spots such as Ha Ha Tonka State Park and Bennett Springs State Park. Transportation is included and fees are usually around $15, Griffin says. This program also includes bird-watching hikes at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Membership in St. John’s Seniors is free. Please call 417-841-0333 to join and for more information about Exercise for Life and other seniors’ programs.