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Why You Should Join Our Group Fitness Classes in 2018!

Working out with others offers added health benefits

Why You Should Join Our Group Fitness Classes in 2018!

By Matthew Machin, Applewood Fitness and Wellness Coordinator

Fitness coordinator at Applewood

Happy New Year! I could not be more pleased to see our wellness and fitness programs adding new participants every week.

Due to the continued influx of residents joining in, I am pleased to announce a significantly expanded class curriculum for 2018, which I’ll share you with below.

The fitness and wellness component of Engaged Living™ is key for Applewood seniors to manage weight, promote emotional well-being, improve flexibility, offer a better night’s sleep and help to offset chronic pain and the onset of disease.

Based on those facts alone, who wouldn’t want to join in?

Benefits of Group Work-Outs

“But why do I need to exercise in a group?” you may ask.

You don’t have to look far to learn about the plethora of unique benefits derived from group fitness work-outs.

Reader’s Digest just reported on these four key group fitness attributes:

  1. More motivation to stick with the group class and keep improving
  2. Exercising under the guidance of a professional fitness professional
  3. Science suggests more ‘feel-good’ endorphins may be released during group exercise
  4. Group activity promotes socializing, good for mental health and to offset depression

Applewood Group Fitness and Wellness Classes

We offer the latest group fitness classes for any fitness level or age. These classes are not designed to make you feel exhausted or leave you nursing sore muscles. In fact, these classes will do quite the opposite:

Aqua Fitness45 mins – dynamic class in the pool that focuses on all areas of fitness; flexibility, endurance, strength, and balance.

Get Hip, Don’t Slip (Balance)30 mins – This is a standing only exercise class in which we focus on lower body strength, endurance, flexibility, and coordination.

Exercise For Arthritis30 mins – This morning workout class is great for those who wake up stiff and achy. Gentle, low intensity movements designed to increase blood flow to the joint and relieve pain caused by arthritis.

Basic Strength30 mins – In this class, we use weights to maintain muscle mass, increase strength, and aid bone density.

Chair Fitness30 mins – This class is designed for those of all levels of ability. Simple exercises done in the chair designed to keep residents active and functional.

Drums Alive30 mins – exercise done with drumsticks! Use your body and your brain to keep up with the pattern and beat.

Zumba Gold30 mins – Zumba is a dance fitness class that is designed for the senior population. Come get your groove on with our Zumba-specialist instructor Sarah.

Tai Chi/Qigong/Meditation30 mins – Classes taught by John Mercurio, certified instructor and owner of Advanced Wellness Consultants. Regular practice of Qigong can help reduce stress, improve balance, lower blood pressure, enhance immune system, and reduce pain from arthritis. (Tai Chi is NOT martial arts and can be done by anyone at any fitness level.)

Additional Amenities for Promoting a Healthy Senior Lifestyle

Our fitness and wellness offerings extend far beyond group classes. You can also get a great work-out using any of these additional amenities at Applewood:

  • Fitness Center – Seniors can utilize the Fitness Center 24/7, which includes all the latest cardio equipment, free weight and mats for stretching.
  • Heated Indoor Pool and Spa – 75-foot junior Olympic-sized indoor heated pool and hot tub spa – both set at just the right temperature year-round, featuring instructional aqua-cise classes 3 days/week.
  • Outdoor Amenities:
  • Bocce court with benches
  • 1,000-square-foot putting green
  • Croquet court
  • Shuffleboard court
  • Lighted walking path with distance markers

Fitness and Healthy Well-Being Opportunities Abound at Applewood

It’s a new year and I hope you’ll start it by trying a new way to move your body.

Working-out and regular exercise becomes even more important later in life. And a little goes a long way in keeping you limber and agile. If you haven’t tried a fitness class, join us, just for one class and see what you think.

Stop by my office outside the Fitness Center and I’ll be happy to talk about your fitness goals and create a plan just for you.

At Applewood, we emphasize living a healthy lifestyle in everything we do. Call our friendly team at (732) 303-7416 and make plans to visit, have lunch and tour our apartments and cottage homes.

Looking for a retirement community where you can enjoy all the great times ahead?

Welcome to Applewood.