April 6, 2022
“In January 2020, the Board of Directors of the AVA: America’s Walking Club, declared the first seven days of April to be “National Walking Week” which would include the traditional “National Walking Day” sponsored by the American Heart Association from 2007 to 2019.”
At VITALIA Senior Residences® at Strongsville in Strongsville, OH, we strive to make sure that our residents stay active and healthy to ensure they enjoy their golden years in the best ways possible! Each of our residents has unique interests when it comes to fitness – some enjoy walking outdoors at local parks while others get their workout in at our cardio drumming classes. With that in mind, we adapt our fitness programs according to the tastes of our residents, utilizing both in-house fitness classes and our vendor partnerships to provide a variety of choices for our residents to stay active. Due to our unique resident group, the classes we provide may vary from those of our sister communities so that we are all meeting the needs of our individual residents.
As a Resident Services Director and Certified Yoga Instructor, I continue to educate my residents about the importance of moving their bodies, stretching, practicing balance, and taking time to focus on their breathing. They have heard me say many times, “Move it or lose it!”, making sure we concentrate on keeping all our joints moving every day!
Here at VITALIA Strongsville, we have exercise classes seven days a week. The residents participate in chair exercise, chair yoga, balance class, water aerobics, indoor and outdoor walking, and even meditation classes to relax their minds. In some of our classes, we use light weights and bands for resistance. We also play many active games like bowling, cornhole, beach volleyball, and fly ball.
When we think of celebrating National Walking Week, we don’t just see a way to stay active. We see an opportunity to interact with those in our communities and meet new friends along the way. In celebration of this week, walkers are encouraged to find the motivation to get active.
As we re-launch our outdoor Walking Club to celebration National Walking Week, we are hoping the weather here in Cleveland is cooperative. Throughout the month, we will be going to the Cleveland Metroparks to walk and get some fresh air and we’ll even be taking our resident dogs out for a ‘Mutt Strut’. We will also be heading out to the Strongsville Recreation Center to walk the inside track. Our therapists at Fox Therapy will be providing pedometers for our residents to keep track of their steps and this might even spark a little competition in our community.
Regular exercise is crucial for our residents in maintaining their health and wellbeing. We will continue to discuss the importance of exercise and walking and how it improves bone health, promotes cardiovascular health, builds positive mental health, prevents falls, improves energy levels, and even keeps us social. We will promote our walking club and challenge residents to encourage each other to participate throughout the year.
If you would like to participate in National Walking Week efforts in your area, visit https://ava.org/national-walking-week/ to find out more!
Sources: https://ava.org/national-walking-week/
VITALIA® Strongsville in Strongsville, OH offers independent senior apartments, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located near Southwest General Hospital with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Mallard Creek, Southpark Mall, Strongsville Historical Society, The Greens of Strongsville Shopping , and Don’s Pomeroy House.
