TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Seniors Learn To Stay Flexible

Tribune photo by Jay Nolan

Amber Swortzel leads a group of seniors through an exercise class at the Commons in Town 'N Country. The senior center opened last month and has many activities like bridge and work-out sessions.

ADVERTISEMENT

By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: January 21, 2009

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - With soft music in the background to create a peaceful atmosphere, Robbie Miles led about 45 senior citizens through a tai chi routine designed to loosen stiff joints, stretch arthritic hands and energize tired bodies.

It was the first class she had taught at the Town 'N Country Senior Center, which opened in December. She urged the students to return and promised fewer aches and pains if they performed the moves regularly.

"If you make it to two classes a week, you'll see more flexibility, you'll have more rotation," Miles said. "I think this is one of the best exercises for the 49-plus crowd."

It's an addition to the senior center, among the Jazzercise, Zumba, stretching and toning and "walking down your blood sugar" classes. All are part of the center's mission to focus on active adults and healthy living, said Lori Radice, the center's manager.

Run through Hillsborough County's Department of Aging Services, the center provides education and interaction to adults age 50 and older. On any given day, guests could be working out in group classes or alone in the fitness center, scrapbooking, watching movies, learning about Medicare and managing prescriptions or beating each other in bridge, pinochle or bunco.

"We've been inundated with community residents," Radice said.

Fitness classes started with about a dozen participants and now regularly draw 30 people daily, Radice said.

Most activities are free or available for a small charge. Radice said the center soon will have membership cards for free and available to anyone who is at least 50. In the future she hopes to expand the hours to weekends and evenings to accommodate working adults.

And if they get bored, they are just steps from the new Town 'N Country Regional Library.

Both are housed - as well as a Head Start center - in the Town 'N Country Commons, 7606 Paula Drive. The $11 million facility opened last month after eight years of dreaming and planning and covers more than 45,000 square feet. Shimberg Gardens will open next to the complex in the spring or summer, offering a gazebo, Florida-friendly plants and a butterfly garden.

"We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have this center," said Dori Duquaine, 68.

She and her husband, Jerry, joined tai chi. Jerry Duquaine, 72, uses a motorized wheelchair because he is paralyzed on his left side, but he sat and stood with the rest of the group, following the routine and only occasionally leaning on his chair for support.

He thought the class was excellent.

"I wanted to see if I could do it," he said.

The group started with warm-ups in their chairs and then stood to get their blood flowing before practicing six basic moves six times each. They extended their arms and flexed their hands.

"We need to have strong hands to open those jars in the kitchen, pick up those little coins," Miles said. She rubbed their hands together to feel the heat from their chi, or energy.

They bounced lightly on their feet and drew circles in the air with their knees.

"This is usually where I get to hear some popping and cracking," Miles said.

Miles, who says she is in that "49-plus" age range, started tai chi a couple of years ago and couldn't believe how good it made her feel. It gives her energy and a sense of calmness, she said, and the moves are easily adaptable to different abilities.

Lois Styles, 81, had come to the senior center for bunco and bingo and tried the tai chi class.

"I liked it," she said. "It's an exercise that I can do without killing myself."

Miles cooled down the class with slow inhalation and exhalation as participants moved their arms. She asked them to close with a bow, to show friendship, humility and strength.

"Means don't mess with me," she said, smiling, as she bowed to the group and they returned the favor. "Thanks for coming out."

ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER

The Town 'N Country Senior Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 7606 Paula Drive, near Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road. Classes and activities are available daily to adults 50 and older. Most are free, but some have a $1 or $2 fee. The center eventually will offer an adult day care for 12 people ages 60 and older who have dementia. That group must be enrolled in advance and will be kept in a separate section of the center and not have interaction with the center's patrons.

For information, call (813) 873-6336.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT