Life Options program gets seniors and business community involved

A new program allows seniors to participate in activities that make "use it or lose it" a more attractive concept.

Douglas County Senior Center Director Warren Bottino came up with the Life Options programs as a way to get seniors motivated to be more mentally and physically active.

"We started a yoga program with Jill Mustacchio a couple of years ago with a just a few people and now she has 35-40 people twice a week. We moved the class to the Methodist church. The interest is out there."

Bottino said seniors are going to be more active and they want to see more classes.

"We want to give people more activities - to provide something for everyone," he said. "There are 15,000 seniors in Douglas County and we wanted to start a program to provide activities in the community," he said. "Our hope is the business community will offer services at discounted rates that will in turn help business."

Besides yoga, the senior center offers classes in ceramics, knitting, crocheting and painting but the idea of Life Options was realized when Nathen Hughes from Define Fitness Center offered a special membership price to seniors who sign up through the senior center.

"We realized really a large senior base and most companies aren't senior-friendly," said Hughes. "The general person wants to exercise in a comfortable atmosphere. We want seniors to feel comfortable.

"People 60-70 years old need something to increase and keep up bone density and we want to provide a place for them to do these things. It makes a difference in our muscles and bones - you've got to use it or lose it. It's important to keep the activity level going to stay flexible. We can keep our strength and mobility up into our 80s and 90s," Hughes said.

Hughes said the Define Fitness reduced senior rate includes membership and orientation sessions to hopefully establish a habit of going to the gym.

While visiting Define Fitness to set up the exercise program for the senior center, Young at Heart President Paul Lockwood decided to become a member.

Lockwood will start his membership at Define Fitness at the beginning of the year and said he will be doing it all - strength training and cardio.

"Maybe it will help my golf game," Lockwood said. "I didn't know this place was here until we came out. I like it. I'm going to give it a try. And another thing, the price is right. The chore is to convince seniors to get some exercise."

Define Fitness has treadmills with low-impact decks and other low-impact machines.

"They're good for people with 76-year-old knees that have been mistreated," said Lockwood who has arthritis in his knees.

Define Fitness has full circuit training, free weights, showers, lockers, cardio and elliptical machines, group fitness classes and tanning included in the membership. Hughes said there is always a trained person in the fitness center to give individual attention.

"We talk one-on-one with the new people and ask them 'What are your goals?' We ask why they're coming in," said Hughes. "Ladies want to fit in a dress for a wedding. Paul wants to improve his golf game. When Paul does cardio training he'll have more core energy to make it through 18 holes and not be so tired."

Define Fitness is open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 2528 Business Parkway, Suite A in Minden. More information at 267-0483.

One of the new classes offered through the Douglas County Senior Center's Life Options program is a monthly cooking demonstration by staff from Trader Joe's. Call the senior center at 783-6455 for more information about this or other classes and activities.