The Mexico Area Family YMCA Chair Exercise class is a popular way to get seniors moving through an accessible program.
Just a few short months ago, the classes only had about 20–30 …
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The Mexico Area Family YMCA Chair Exercise class is a popular way to get seniors moving through an accessible program.
Just a few short months ago, the classes only had about 20–30 participants on average. Last Monday, they hit a record number of 73 people.
Before the YMCA was even built, the class took place at Bethel Presbyterian Church with just a small group led by Cathy Zinkel. The class then moved into the YMCA classrooms.
“We were in the room where the therapy class is until we got too big, and then we had to move upstairs,” says Laura Bail
Laura has been attending since the class was at the Prebyterian church and when the YMCA opened, she took the pool exercise class for many years. When her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she joined the chair exercise class with him.
“I brought him over here for the exercise and I got to keep him at home longer by coming and doing the exercises,” says Bail
Her husband passed away two years ago, but she stuck with the class. At 75 years old, Bail still manages to come three times a week and has been for the past 15 years, since she retired.
“The benefits are being able to get up, and I enjoy my companionship with everybody here.”
In addition to the social aspect, Bail enjoys the physical benefits of this exercise class.
“I have had two knee replacements and two hip replacements, and I have gotten more out of this class than I did going to therapy,” says Bail. “It keeps me up and moving.”
Bail comes early to make sure she has enough time to hang out and get her seat at the front of the class.
“I need it; I just need to be here,” adds Bail.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they moved the class into the gym so everyone would have enough room to spread out.
“Now they’ve grown so much they wouldn’t fit anywhere else,” says Brooke Oliver, CEO of the Mexico Area Family YMCA and the Eastern MO YMCA.
In recent months, class participation has boomed; so much so, that there aren’t always enough chairs and exercise bands to go around.
The YMCA offers two types of classes, “active chair” which includes standing and walking, as well as a “chair only” class for those who aren’t able to get up and down as easily. These classes are primarily there for those who are “retirement age”.
“The youngest we have would be 58 and our oldest will be 99,” says Dedra Heath, one of the three chair class instructors.
Heath has the help of two other instructors: Gailyn Fennewald and Nancy Taylor. Fennewald and Taylor help her lead the classes.
Active Chair Exercise classes run Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:15 a.m. to noon and Fridays from 10:15–11:00 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Mexico Area Family YMCA.
