Silver Sneakers

By: June Owens

Many of us are thinking about our word of the year or perhaps what our resolutions will be going into 2022. Topping the list is often a wide array of ways to get healthy and you’ve probably seen gym parking lots extra busy in the first quarter of each year. This year, maybe we should just resolve to be consistent. If health is a priority, let is be so every day, all year long.

What if you’re entering or are well into your golden years? Life as you know it may have slowed down a little, but that doesn’t mean your body has to. In fact, ailments like cardiovascular disease and arthritis that are common as we age can be prevented or improved with just 2 ½ hours of physical activity per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That’s the gift you can give yourself. And the bow on top … it can be FREE! If you are age 65 or older and on Medicare, or eligible for Medicare due to a disability, you may already be part of the Silver Sneakers network of more than 11 million people eligible for this benefit. 

Does the word FREE have you intrigued? It sure did me and I can tell you first-hand, Silver Sneakers is indeed FREE if you qualify and includes a membership to the YMCA. I just finished speaking with the staff at the Huber Heights location. Signing up is as easy as stopping at the Members Services Desk with your insurance card and photo identification. They will be able to immediately search the database for your eligibility. Once they receive the confirmation code, you will be able to complete your membership application and be instantly able to access the facilities. If you want to check before you go, you can do so in less than 5 minutes at here. I just did it for my mama and here are her results … 

• You're Eligible! Just one more step to activate all the benefits of membership and access over 15,000 fitness locations, hundreds of in-person and online fitness classes, the vibrant Silver Sneakers community and so much more.

Once enrolled, you’ll be joining my mama and the many others, currently more than 1 million YMCA members, taking control of their health. Classes and self-paced activities are designed to include flexibility, mobility, balance, cardio, strength, and more. Your local YMCA can provide you with their complete schedule, but here’s a quick snapshot of some of the offerings.

• Yoga - moving your whole body through a series of seated and standing poses, with chair support as needed 

• Classic Silver Sneakers – moving to music with exercises involving hand-held weights, elastics, and resistance balls, with chair support as needed 

• Circuit – a combination of non-impact aerobics and upper body strength exercises

• BOOM – Move It and Muscle are each 45-minute classes developed to take your fitness to the next level with higher intensity, with Muscle focusing more on building strength while Move It will have you sweating and having fun via dance

• Zumba Gold - developed for beginners with fun basic dance steps including some rock and roll, meringue, cha-cha, mambo, cumbia, calypso, and salsa

• Aquatics – enjoy heated pools for lap swimming and water aerobics, always a favorite for those with any form of muscle, bone, or joint discomfort

• Tai Chi – a martial arts wellness program known as “meditation in motion” because it promotes serenity through gentle and very slow controlled movements that are perfect for those with chronic illness, injuries, or a sedentary lifestyle 

It looks like you’ve now got the keys to better health in 2022 so why not unlock the door to greater independence and healthier life. I bet you might make some friends along the way that make coming back all the more worth it. Stop in your local YMCA or click https://www.daytonymca.org/join to get more information and get out those sneakers, silver or otherwise.