At-home health routines develop in reputation |

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On a Thursday morning earlier this month, former Southwood High School PE teacher Mary Jo McClelland used a can of green beans to prepare for her low-impact fitness class.

A rubber band was tied around the can and the McClelland smartphone, which was attached to a charger, which was then connected to a nearby extension cord.

“I don’t have an engineering degree, but you know,” she said, laughing over the makeshift tripod.

In addition to the personal lessons, McClelland’s phone also broadcast the action live to various locations online.

“I stream – or whatever you call it – on my Facebook, and I want you to stream on the senior center’s Facebook site as well,” she said. “That should happen.”

This hybrid setup was a reference to the extraordinary times and a symbol of how flexible it has helped the local seniors to stay active, even when the whole world is closed. However, the home friendly workouts should stick around as they are suitable for people of all ages and offer flexibility to those with hectic schedules.

Classes typically take place every week on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:45 am and Wednesdays at 3:00 pm at the Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center, 239 Bond St., Wabash. Many other organizations also offer free virtual workouts.

Nancy Kolb, who has been taking classes at Wabash regularly since retiring in 2005, said an average group will vary in size depending on the session.

Beverly Ferry, CEO of Living Well in Wabash County, originally started the program with funding from the Wabash Hospital Foundation until Living Well in Wabash County took it over after moving to Parkview Wabash Hospital.

“Seniors tell us they are motivated to stand up and move around when they come to our low-impact classes,” said Ferry. “It’s more than fitness. It is fun. We surveyed seniors a few months after the pandemic. Many responded that their daily activity level had decreased. They watched more TV than usual. They said they were more sedentary than they were before the pandemic. “

McClelland said this was the first week she had held live face-to-face meetings at the senior center since the pandemic began over a year ago. McClelland said last year they switched to outdoor courses when the weather was nice. That was October 2020.

“As soon as we couldn’t get outside, we got in,” she said.

McClelland said afterward that she had streamed courses – like now – until she had knee replacement surgery in mid-January. McClelland said these external pressures made it difficult for her and other seniors to keep meeting their fitness goals.

“I’ve always had a problem with my weight since I was born. It was fine until about two months ago, and then the boom got out of hand, ”she said.

McClelland said they had taken various safety precautions since returning to face-to-face classes. Participants must complete a detailed questionnaire with name, address, telephone number, vaccination status, specific COVID-19 symptoms, and contact cases with people who tested positive.

“You can see the configuration,” said McClelland, pointing to chairs spread out in front of her. “They’re both supposed to have vaccines when they come. You have to sign a paper. They are supposed to wear masks and use disinfectants on the way in and out. “

When class began, McClelland made her students grip a maraca in each hand. The CD “Rockin ‘Aerobics” was in their stereo, playing music with a recorded narrator giving orders about it.

“Move this body anywhere,” said the voice.

“Get up. It’s time to go.”

“Hands up.”

“To run.”

“Pump those arms.”

“Keep jogging.”

“We’re going up and down the mountains.”

“That was a great trip.”

After a few minutes of training, McClelland took a moment to address the home audience joining via the Green Bean Can smartphone configuration.

“We’re going to check in the viewer,” she said, turning to the online viewer.

“Two cans of beans will do pretty well,” she said, laughing as she used another can to open her textbook in the seat of a chair.

The music switched to techno versions of various pop songs, including Kylie Minogue’s “I Should Be So Lucky”, “Let Your Love Flow” by the Bellamy Brothers, “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay and “Rock Me Gently” by Andy Kim.

In the meantime, McClelland had run a few side stretches before moving on to handweights.

“We sit partly at our chair and partly near our chair. We’re going to circling the chair in one direction and back, ”McClelland said.

It appeared to the participants that they were making a swift return to face-to-face teaching, especially after a difficult year.

“I’m out of shape,” said one, finishing a stretch.

“Oh, I have a shape, but …” said another laughing.