When someone attends a fitness class, usually it’s because they are looking for the physical benefits. They want to increase strength, cardiovascular health, balance, prevent falls and more. Each of these benefits can be achieved with StrongerU Senior Fitness, but there is also benefit for 5 more dimensions of wellness.
The dimensions of wellness model was created by Bill Hettler in 1976. It's a framework that suggests wellness is achieved through being engaged physically, socially, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and occupationally (purposefully). StrongerU Senior Fitness classes are art fully designed to ensure benefits are realized in all 6 dimensions of wellness.
Social Benefits:
Group fitness brings people together! There is a bond created during shared experience. It bolsters our sense of belonging. Researchers at Brigham Young University carried out a series of studies that showed those who shared positive experiences with others felt happier, claimed their life was more meaningful, and reported greater life satisfaction. StrongerU Senior Fitness participants will often continue to engage after class is over and look forward to the next time they get to see their fitness friends again.
Intellectual Benefits:
The World Health Organization strongly recommended physical activity interventions as a means of risk reduction for cognitive decline and dementia in its most recent guidelines. StrongerU Senior Fitness uses interesting movement combinations and tempo changes to keep participants on their toes. There are no mindless repetitions in our program. Each month new content is released which requires participants to progress through the stages of motor learning from the cognitive stage, to associative learning, and finally, the autonomous stage where they can feel mastery. Participants develop muscle memory and are able to recognize and recall movement patterns even when it’s been some time since they have seen a certain release.
Emotional Benefits:
StrongerU Senior Fitness is set to familiar and popular music for the 65+ demographic. The music allows an emotional connection to the movements. A song can transport anyone back to a time in their life, and those positive feelings spread to the movement. With the pre-choreographed content, StrongerU Senior Fitness participants have a consistent program layout which is familiar and allows for feeling of mastery. Exercise is often associated with work, but StrongerU Senior Fitness becomes associated with fun. Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D, a researcher who studies the philosophy of music, says “When music is used during activity, it has ergogenic (work-enhancing) effects and psychological effects. Listening to music during exercise can both delay fatigue and lessen the subjective perception of fatigue. It can increase physical capacity, improve energy efficiency, and influence mood. In study after study, the use of music during low- to moderate-level intensity exercise was associated with clear improvements in endurance.”
Spiritual Benefits:
Spirituality has many definitions. It means different things to different people, but can be described as a connection to something larger than ourselves. Especially in StrongerU Stretch, the components of mindfulness, guided relaxation and purposeful breathing create opportunity for a spiritual experience. In a special health report published by Harvard Health Publishing called Positive Psychology: Harnessing the Power of Happiness, Personal Strength, and Mindfulness, Mindfulness was identified as a key driver of stress reduction and overall happiness. Mindfulness can help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties. Mindfulness has been used as a treatment of a number of problems, including: depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A Sense of Purpose:
StrongerU Senior Fitness Ambassadors are participants who exemplify a lifestyle of active aging and help to inspire and motivate their peers. When you help others, it promotes positive physiological changes in the brain associated with happiness. When you feel as if your life has meaning, research shows that you may be less likely to develop sleep problems, have a heart attack, or die prematurely. Research points to at least three ways in which your awareness of a sense of purpose may promote physical health- reduced stress, improved coping, and health promoting behaviors.
StrongerU Senior Fitness is Canada's first pre-choreographed senior fitness series offering online certification and monthly class content in 4 program types- Cardio, Strength, Stretch, and Circuit. Access to the StrongerU Senior Fitness Series is now available! Use promo code “1st100” before September 10th to enroll for just $100 ($150 savings!). Visit strongeruseniorfitness.com to enroll and subscribe to our newsletter for announcements and updates. Join StrongerU Senior Fitness in helping seniors maintain or increase their current level of fitness, but also realize the benefits of intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and purposeful engagement.
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