ATHABASCA – As we start to return to normal after the “COVID-19 years,” many groups around town are finding their membership numbers higher than they were before, as people flood back to activities that provide the sense of community that was missed.
At the Athabasca Seniors Centre, the twice-weekly exercise class led by Aspen Primary Care Network’s (PCN) exercise specialist Jonathan LeMessurier aims to increase the physical health, as well as the social well-being of the 30 or so seniors that attend the Monday/Wednesday classes.
LeMessurier said that when he’s planning the workouts, he’s focusing on four primary areas: strength, flexibility, balance, and cardio. Each of the four aspects plays a role in trying to keep the attendees independent for longer, so they’re able to remain in their own homes if they so decide that’s where they want to be.
“Balance is a big one; as we age, we really understand how the risk of falls goes up, so working on strength training and balance to avoid that is important,” said LeMessurier. “We’ll do usually body weight, resistance bands or dumbbells. The last one is flexibility, making sure that they’re able to lift their arms above their heads to be able to do whatever they need to do, like washing their own hair, or putting a coat or a shirt on.”
For many, it’s not just the exercise that brings them to the sessions. It’s also a chance to see old friends, catch up on your week, and just get out of the house for a bit; one lady even drove up from Gibbons, an hour and fifteen minutes away, just to participate.
Faye McMillan, who’s been coming to the exercises from the start, said that for her, the best part was the stretching and togetherness. “After we’ve done all that hard work, we get to relax. The exercises are intense, but Jonathan’s funny, and I enjoy the camaraderie, and the difficulty.”
Janice Green, who’s the vice president of the centre, has also been around for a good chunk of time; she’s been involved with the exercise group at the centre since she retired from Athabasca University in 2013. “I like the social aspect, I’ve been quite involved on the board side, but I don’t get as involved in the kitchen. I just really have enjoyed it. When we were first doing it pre-COVID, we were lucky if we got 10 people out,” said the part-time exercise leader. “So, to have this many people coming, and to have men involved now, it’s just something else.”
In his role at the PCN, LeMessurier said that he occasionally gets referrals for people that are struggling with their mental health, and he does his best to treat it with exercise. “Through COVID, we learned a lot about mental health, and about how exercise is so important to help with increased mood, and energy,” he said.
LeMessurier is taking those pandemic lessons into account when he builds his program plans for the week. “Every few classes as we warm up, I’ll get people to share their name, and their favorite vacation, or if they drink coffee or tea, just so we can continue to get to know each other better.”
At the end of the day, it’s small events like these that build on the sense of community in a small town. It’s a place for people from all over to gather, get a good sweat in, and chat with old and new friends afterwards.
As LeMessurier said, it’s about “just coming out, and building that network. Sure, in a small community you know some people already, but it’s about continuing to build that sense of community and friendship.”
