STORY AND PHOTOS BY KATE DALY

The YMCA aims to keep people moving.

You don’t need a watch to tell you when it’s time to move, because there’s an app for that. Every minute in the popular circuit training class for senior citizens at the Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum, lively music is punctuated by a countdown to let you know: “1,2,3, switch stations!”

Healthy Living Director Aspen Saren leads the Time to Move class, and by using Spotify playlists and a timer app on her phone, she is freer to focus on the dozens of participants and help them with any modifications they need to keep up the energetic pace.

“I have a ton of people in there with knee replacements, and it’s important to modify things,” she said.

That includes, for instance, having them use the barre standing to do an exercise rather than kneeling on a mat.

Designed by personal trainers five years ago, the class seeks to maintain and improve members’ fitness levels and build community. Sign-ups are available online and by phone two weeks in advance, and there is often a waitlist to join.

The class is held in the yoga/dance studio from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Before each class, Saren selects 10 exercises from a binder of about 120 different options, and then places equipment and how-to illustrations around the perimeter of the room so 20 people can work out in pairs, rotating among the activities, doing them three times for a minute each.

Afterwards, they cool down by stretching together as a group.

Wearing a T-shirt labeled “Fitness Staff,” Saren walks around the room exclaiming, ”You got it!” “Nice!” encouraging everyone with a warm smile to do their best whether it be pulling on elastic bands and sturdy straps, flinging heavy ropes, lifting light weights, or balancing on tippy toes or a large ball.

Last September she moved to Hailey from Colorado Springs where she earned a degree in Health and Wellness Promotion at the University of Colorado.

“I haven’t worked directly with seniors before…and they’re all super motivated, happy and excited to be there. Their balance and mobility is significantly increased, and that’s important when you are aging,” she said.

“it’s a very chatty crew, and that’s the fun of it, a lot of them know each other,” she added.

The camaraderie is wonderful, agreed Carol Hughes.  

She and her husband, Bert, have been attending the class for a couple of years.  An avid hiker and skier, he notes the class helps with his flexibility and eye, hand, body and mind coordination.

“It stimulates all of that,” he said.

His wife finishes his sentence with, “It’s the old adage, ‘Use it or lose it,’ and we all want to be around to use it.”

Chris Vik has been a regular participant for five years.  Her goal: To keep healthy.

“My husband started coming after COVID and he had never been in an organized class before, and he’s faithful now,” she said.

Saren lost her grandmother to Parkinson’s recently, and admits, “I have a huge heart” when she teaches an additional class called Delay the Disease. It is free and offered on Wednesdays from 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Saren describes the class as an evidence-based program from Ohio Health…an exercise class designed to empower people with Parkinson’s.

“We do a lot of big movements, strength training, a lot of vocal exercises and facial exercises to strengthen that and we get a little silly and play games – I think it helps build up people’s confidence,” she said.

She also notices an impact in the longevity of participants and their ability to accomplish everyday tasks.

Many of the routines are performed while seated in a chair, and some people attend class with their caregivers.

Both Delay the Disease and Time to Move are partly funded by the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.

The YMCA used to offer an Enhance Fitness class that was geared towards people living with arthritis.  Saren says there’s a possibility of bringing that back, and adding a Neuro Fit class for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“But we haven’t had the staffing capacity to make those happen,” she said. “We’re hiring.”

INTERESTED?

The job openings are posted at https://www.woodriverymca.org.