|
| Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 |
| |
By Tom Mackie
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
When the exercise craze began in the 1970s, many of the people now at Ann’s Choice were busy raising families. Yet a sweeping glance at the 800-plus active and energetic residents who make up Bucks County’s premier community for people 62-plus leaves little doubt that they’ve been enjoying the exercise craze for many years.
Just stop by the Ann’s Choice Fitness Center any morning or afternoon, and you’ll see an enthusiastic group of residents stretching, lifting weights, walking and running on the treadmill, andhaving a lot of fun to boot.
Ann’s Choice Wellness Coordinator Luann Foster believes residents flock to the Fitness Center because they understand the importance of exercise in their lives.
“It’s no secret that as you get older, the need for exercise is even more important,” says Luann. “I think people here understand the desire to keep moving and exercising. It’ll go a long way toward helping them stay independent and continue doing things in their upcoming years.”
Fitness is Just Part of the Erickson HealthSM Wellness Philosophy
|
Luann’s Quick and Easy
Winter Workout
Now that you’ve gotten to know a little about the Fitness Center and your athletic juices are probably flowing a bit, try Luann’s quick and easy workout thatyou can do anytime you want to get energized. | |
|
|
“When sitting down try not to use your arms to stand. By doing this, you are promoting the use of your leg muscles. Try sitting and standing 10 times in a row without using your arms a few times a week and feel the exercise get easier as your legs get stronger".
”NOTE: This exercise would not be recommended for those who have severe knee arthritis. |
The Fitness Center is a big part of the wellness aspect that makes Erickson Health
SM so successful. In fact, Erickson Health
SM is the nation’s largest integrated wellness and health network for people 62-plus. As part of the overall wellness philosophy, Erickson provides an onsite Medical Center, pharmacy, all-season Aquatics Center, the aforementioned Fitness Center with personal trainers like Luann, plus other activities for the body and mind: putting green, billiards, woodwork and hobby shop, creative arts studio, college classes, clubs, Performing Arts Center, walking and bike paths, and more.
“There’s something here for everybody,” says resident Cynthia Woodson. “You can be as active as you want, especially during the colder months.”
Still, there’s something about the Fitness Center that makes it one of the community’s most popular amenities.
“Working out and staying fit helps residents to stay healthy, by helping to control things like cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, and more,” says Luann. “It also tends to enhance a person’s immune system. In this respect, working out enhances the way you feel on a daily basis.”
Friendly, Fun, and Fit
If you’ve ever visited Ann’s Choice and toured the grounds, you’ve probably met Luann. A certified health and fitness instructor, Luann has been with Ann’s Choice since September 2003, just a few weeks after the 103-acre gated community opened its doors. Like her, there are a lot of people who have worked at Ann’s Choice since the beginning. They love their work and it shows. In fact, they’re as friendly and enthusiastic as the residents.
“At Ann’s Choice we have a great group of residents,” she says. “It really makes working here fun and rewarding. It’s great to see so many people exercising and enjoying themselves.”
Of course, Luann and other instructors here do not just say, “C’mon in and exercise!” They evaluate each person who walks through the door to make sure they’re physically able to engage in the various activities.
One-on-One Training
“When a resident shows interest in joining the Fitness Center, we first require a physician referral and health history information,” says Luann. “By sitting down in what we call a ‘Fitness Assessment’ and talking all about a resident’s health history, medical information, exercise history, medications, goals, etc., we can get an idea of what types of exercises would be helpful for each particular resident, and what types of exercises to steer clear of to prevent injury or further agitation of existing pre-conditions.”
For more information on the Fitness Center, Erickson HealthSM, and Ann’s Choice, please call for your free Information Kit 215-672-2900 or toll-free at1-800-576-1453.