Information
INFORMATIVE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE
It is easy to stay fit in Northwest Ohio. Fitness centers are open almost 24/7; dozen of programs are offered and professional staffs often work as personal trainers for most members. Fees vary. Recent changes in health insurance for STRS members may include membership fees for health classes. More information will be available in the fall but teachers are urged to check with their particular insurance company to see if fees in exercise classes will be waived.
For Women Only:
The management wanted to emphasize that there are many special sign up fees throughout the year and they ask teachers to call their local Curves location about these specials. Some insurance programs will pay the entire fee at Curves so that you might be able to work out free. Please call Marian, 419-478-8112, Curves Manager for more information. There are 22 Curves locations within 30 miles of Toledo.
Senior Centers
Most senior centers in Northwestern Ohio offer fitness workouts through special classes in Line Dancing or Body Recall but two have an extensive program of fitness opportunities. Senior Centers do not always charge dues but there are low fees for fitness programs. Two very active centers are:
Sylvania Area Senior Center which offers many exercise classes Monday through Saturday. They are not open on Sundays. You do not have to be a member of the Center to enroll in the classes. Health and fitness classes include Body Recall, Tai Chi, Yoga, Strength and Balance (3 classes), Swimming, Step It Up ( Step aerobics without the platform), and Jazzercise. Website: www.scsonline.org/seniors.htm Cost: varies with class, from $20 to $50, classes vary from 4 to 8 weeks. Membership fee: None Phone: 419-885-3913
Maumee Senior Center has classes listed on their website: any senior can enroll in an exercise class. Offered are Simply-lite Jazzercise, Body Recall, Water Aerobics (held at the South Toledo YMCA) and Water Arthritis Program (held at Sunshine Children’s Home). Really fun classes that don’t “feel” like exercise include line dancing, soft shoe dance class and square dancing. Body Recall is a non-impact aerobic class for older adults. It emphasizes mobility, flexibility, and strengthening. St. Luke’s Hospital provides Maumee’s class. There are a number of Body Recall classes in the Toledo area. Website: www.maumeeseniorcenter.com/Social.html. Cost: Varies with class: $24 to $50 for 4 to 8 weeks. Membership Fee: None Phone: 419-893-1994
Large Fitness Centers
The Original Fitness center, the YMCA/JCC offers an unbelievable array of classes from 5:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Most experienced of all health organizations (founded 150 years ago in 1859) the “Y/JCC” offers MAX and Associate Memberships. Discounts are awarded to corporations that maintain 10 or more group memberships and to designated subscribers who belong to Paramount Health Care and Family Health Plan. The Silver Sneakers Program is financed through Anthem Insurance and Aetna Medicare. With 9 area locations, the Y/JCC works with all ages of members, including people with disabilities who need accommodations for programs and facilities. One class-Senior Sculpt– is designed specifically for the older adult but Y instructors emphasize that many classes can be taken successfully for the older adult. A brand new West Toledo YMCA on Tremainsville opened in August. Website” ymcatoledo.org/ Cost: Over 62 -Family, $823.04, Individual, $573.25 Corporate/Senior Partnership Members, 5% discount—Church 10% discount. Membership Fee: A one-time joiner Fee from $150 to $54 depending on type of membership and whether member is joining as a family, individual or youth. This Joiner Fee is included in the prices quoted about. Phone: 419-475-3496
Wildwood Athletic Club
Wildwood is another club that is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It offers 70 pieces of the latest cardiovascular equipment and a full line of Cybex, Body Master and Free Motion selectorized weight machines. A large free weight area is also available. Luxurious locker rooms offer not only towel but free amenities such as body wash; in fact they will wash your workout clothes (for a fee) and place them back in your own locker. Wildwood has an indoor swimming pool, cushioned track, gymnasium for group exercise classes and a great Kid’s Club area. Only two special classes for senior are listed: Arthritis Aquatics and Senior Sculpt. Website: www.wildwoodathleticclub.com Cost: Individual membership, Initiation fee, $99, monthly dues, $75. Couple membership, Initiation fee, $149, monthly dues, $114. Parent plus Child Membership, Initiation fee, $199, monthly dues, $100. Family Membership (includes one child), Initiation fee $249, monthly dues, $139. Membership Fee: A $20 signed fee will apply to all memberships based on 12 full paid months. Phone: 419-539-0235.
Move To Improve
Is a private class especially designed for the older person (men are welcome in the class). Peggy Lenz, certified physical fitness instructor for 25 years, carefully plans the course to include a variety of exercises performed to music. Class meets at Reformation Lutheran Church, Douglas Road from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
The class emphasized strength training, balance training and range of motion stretching. Relaxation and stress reduction are also a part of the exercises. Participants find the class especially beneficial after hip or knee replacements.
It is a comfortable class in which participants can improve physical fitness but are encouraged to “go at their own pace”. Exercise mats, balls, and other supplies are provided.
Retired teachers may attend a class free September 10, 14, 15, or 17. Please call Ms. Lenz to tell her you will be attending.
Website: Contact Peggy Lenz, email: plenz44@bex.net
Cost: $65 for 13 weeks of class
Membership Fee: none
Phone: 419-536-1319
Lifelong Learning Program at Lourdes
A wonderful program that is intellectually stimulating and that focuses on the older adult who wished to keep active mentally. Many teachers already belong but some might wish to join them.
Lourdes College Lifelong Learning provides educational and cultural programs in a variety of formats-programs that are designed for the older citizen who wished to continue to grow mentally. Established in 1993, the group is affiliated with the Elderhostel Program headquartered in Boston. Registration for the new season will be at 10 a.m. September 18, 2009 at the Franciscan Center on the college campus.
These are some of the challenging activities they offer members: Daytime classes from one day to 5 or 6 weeks, taught by college faculty, or members who are exceptional in particular topics. No homework or papers, just knowledge is offered.
Monthly meetings (free to members) followed by “Hot Topics” discussions at lunch. Scheduled so far are topics such as “Should freedom of speech ever be restricted?” and “Does affirmative active advance racial equality?”
Seminars and roadrunner trips to other cities are open to both members and guests. One roadrunner trip is already scheduled for Ethel Merman’s Broadway to be presented at the Gem Century Theatre in Detroit, December 3, 2009. Bus transportation and lunch will be provided.
For additional information, retired teachers are encouraged to attend the opening meeting September 18, 2009 or call Gloria Burke at 419-885-1413 or visit the website: www.lourdes.edu , click on Alumni and Friends, then click on Community Outreach, scroll down to Lifelong Learning. Ms. Burke may also be reached at gburke@lourdes.edu.
For Women Only:
Curves offers an efficient 30-minute workout that works all sets of muscles on a variety of hydraulic resistance machines. The design of the machines makes it easier to work out without dealing with the weights used in many gyms. Members are encouraged to work out three times a week but are welcome to work out more. There are 22 Curves locations within 30 miles of Toledo. Curves offers a unique Curves Smart program which provides members with instant information on their physical fitness using a special computer program. No special senior workouts but their exercise program can be adapted to older who can move at their own pace on the equipment. A friendly staff works in the comfortable setting. Website: www.curvesinformation.com. Dues: $34 monthly; if members are traveling or out-of-town in the winter, dues will be applied to another month. Membership Fee: $199 a year: sometimes on sale for $100, plus a free month of workouts. Guest passes are available. Phone: 800-754-7505
Lifestyles for Ladies Only:
Features exciting classes such as cardio dance, belly dancing, cycle and sculpt, but only one class advertises that it is for the older woman-Young at Heart. This class combines low impact aerobics with lightweight training and stretching. Lifestyles is well e quipped with the latest exercise machines offers babysitting
services and is open convenient hours. It is the only gym in Northwest Ohio that offers 70 aerobic classes. Unlimited tanning is available for $10 a mot. All supplies are provided. Lifestyles promises to call you if you fail to show up and will freeze membership in case of illness. Since it is for women only =, there is a comfortable feeling to the center: the staff is friendly and cheerful. Website: www.lifestylesforladiesonly.com Dues: $19 monthly. 15% off for members over 62. Group rates are available. Phone: 419-475-5355
Urban Active Fitness Center
Name the exercise machine or a fitness class and Urban Active Fitness Center has it. To quote from their brochure, “Urban Active offers you a fleet of the fitness industry’s top strength equipment, cardio machines and free weights.” They maintain a private Women-Only exercise room, an indoor lap pool, cushioned walking track, and personalized training by certified experts. You can watch recent movies in their Cardio Cinema while you use the treadmill. And like most centers, Urban Active opens its doors at 5 a.m. and closes them at 11 p.m. Classes sound challenging but once again there are one specifically planned for the older body. A supervised children’s playroom is open in case you are babysitting grandchildren. Website: www.urbanactive.com Cost: $ 150 a month Membership Fee: $200 annually Phone: 419-535-6669
Here are some interesting websites with information for the over 55 crowd. Perhaps when you have a few minutes to spare at the computer or the need for some information in a hurry they will prove useful to you. (The web addresses are self explanatory in many cases.)
- ElderLawAnswers.com
- Caregiver.com
- Mrltc.com (Mr. Long-term Care)
- Ivanhoe.com (Ivanhoe’s Medical Breakthroughs
- Comsumerreports.org/nursinghomes
- Insureonline.org
- ohioproud.org (Farmer’s Markets)
- phones4life.org (Free emergency phones)
- healthology.com (Largest library-original health programs and physician articles on the web)
- Qualitycheck.org (Joint Commision on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ list of hospitals and other care providers that meet safety and quality accreditation standards.)
Also, I called 211 to see what this new number meant for Toledoans. This is a United Way service, 24/7, for people in Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties who need immediate help. It was formerly called “First Call for Help”. After you tell the machine whether you want English or Spanish, you get a REAL Person here in Toledo. After I explained who I was and what I wanted, she transferred me to another REAL person who very graciously explained some of the services. While I hope none of our teachers need this service, I can recommend the knowledgeable and empathetic people who answer the phone. They can find you immediate food, clothing and a place to sleep if you have NO money.
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