The Sanibel Recreation Center is set to launch a new initiative for those over the age of 65.<\/p>\n
Wellness 4 Life: Active Living for Every Chapter will kick off on March 2. As a multi-generational community hub, the rec center is committed to supporting wellness across the lifespan. The new comprehensive, healthy aging initiative will offer targeted programming to meet the unique physical, cognitive and social needs of adults age 65 and older.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we all age, if we don\u2019t use it, we lose it,\u201d Recreation Director Andrea Miller said of cognitive health. \u201cIf we aren\u2019t exercising our brain on a regular basis, we\u2019re going to see some decline.\u201d<\/p>\n
She noted that the same applies to physical health, like balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s drawing attention to some of those aspects of our overall health,\u201d Miller said. \u201cAnd offering an opportunity to take advantage of things like that and bring some awareness to some of those aspects.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative will feature classes, workshops, speakers and trips, including: physical fitness classes, mindful movement and balance, low-impact and joint-friendly cardio, brain fitness and memory, learning-based cognitive health, longevity speakers and workshops, and social and intergenerational programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are adding an additional seated exercise class,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother program is Brain Builders,\u201d Miller added. \u201cWe will purchase Legos, and each week they\u2019ll build a different creation out of Legos.\u201d<\/p>\n
There will be programs centered around mediation and breathe work, like yoga and QiGong.<\/p>\n
She reported that the rec center is also partnering with the SanCap Chamber, which will provide a couple copies of the Sanibel board game for people to play, along with puzzles, over a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
The initiative will also have a technology aspect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll do a workshop on how to use your smart phone to take photos or simple functions,\u201d Miller said, adding that they will continue to host The Canterbury School\u2019s Computer Literacy Education and Outreach (CLEO) Club for tech tutorials. \u201cThat\u2019s been a huge hit, so trying to keep that going as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The programming will be open to members and non-members.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a public facility,\u201d she said, explaining that a lot of the activities will require registration, but they will be free and open to all. \u201cThey don\u2019t just have to be a rec center member to participate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new initiative is made possible through a grant from the Charitable Foundation of the Islands\u2019 (CFI) Community Impact Fund. It was created with support from the Shady Rest Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money is specifically to be used for programming for the 65-plus age group,\u201d Miller said. \u201cA thank you to them for providing funding to CFI for this purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
The public is invited to take part.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make sure that everyone at every age knows that we have something for them,\u201d Recreation Department Marketing & Events Coordinator Denise Dillon said.<\/p>\n
She noted that Wellness 4 Life will pair with and piggyback off of their existing Fit4Life initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want them to feel included, welcome,\u201d Dillon said. \u201cAnd know that there is something for everyone here at the rec center, for every stage of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, call 239-472-0345.<\/p>\n
The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.<\/p>\n