By Patricia Gerhardt
Kansas State Research and Extension
KSU River Valley Extension will be bringing the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy strength training classes to Jamestown starting February 20 through April 12. The 8-week hour long classes will meet from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Jamestown’s Downtown Activity Center.
The exercises in the classes were developed by Tufts University for women and then adapted by the University of Missouri for both men and women. Knowing older adults want to live healthy, independent lifestyles, the exercises are designed to increase muscle strength, improve balance, enhance flexibility, reduce the risk of heart disease, give relief from arthritis, control weight and help relieve depression and stress. Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon cancer and breast cancer. It also helps with preventing weight gain, improving cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength, preventing falls, reducing depression and improving overall brain function.
Extension agents Deanna Turner and Patricia Gerhardt have been trained in the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program that is designed for anyone. The exercises are safe and ‘doable’. The class size is limited with the $20 class fee including the use of weights, hand-outs and instruction. For more information or to ask questions please call Turner at 785-632-5335 or Gerhardt at 785-243-8185.
