LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
You don’t have to be young to enjoy fitness and the Arrowsmith Recreation Team (ART) is going to prove it.
Kim Longmuir and Marilynn Sims, coordinators with ART, were recently approved for a grant to offer the Arrowsmith Sole Sisters FAB (Forever Active Bodies) 55-plus fitness program to the district, a chance for women 55 and older to build a fitness base, try a number of local programs, meet new people and have fun.
The 10-week program will begin with a 45-minute functional fitness workout of strength, stretch and stride led by fitness coach Beth Alden at Kickstart Fitness. Then a local female coach or instructor will introduce the Sole Sisters to a new sport or fitness program including yoga, Zumba Gold, nordic walking, hula hooping and more.
Longmuir said the idea is to give women a chance to try something that they wouldn’t otherwise enroll in.
“You’re just not going to sign up for a class if you have no idea what it’s like,” she said.
Following the class women might find they really liked one of the programs introduced and think about joining, Sims said.
Longmuir said the program is open to all levels of women over 55 in district 69.
“We want women to know they’re all welcome, all shapes, all sizes, and they can go at their own pace.”
Longmuir and Sims developed the program and applied for the grant to make the program affordable for residents, and they were one of only a few programs to be selected by ViaSport, which works with the province to increase levels of physical activity at every stage of life, in every community. Only four grants were awarded in the province from the non-profit organization and ART was one of them.
“It was exciting news because we put a lot of work into the grant and it was nice to be recognized for the time we put into developing the program,” said Longmuir.
The FAB 55-plus grant was founded by ProMOTION Plus and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) which is administered by ViaSport. It is funded by the government of Canada and the Province of B.C. through the B.C. Sport Participation Program.
Following the course the ART team is hoping to keep the Sole Sisters going with a free progressive fitness walk.
Everyone in the class gets a free T-shirt and a local nutritionist will provide healthy snacks during which time women can socialize and ask questions.
The program begins January 8 and runs to March 12. It will take place at the Kickstart Fitness Gym in the Pinetree Centre in Coombs. The cost is $50 and pre-registration is required. Space is limited to 30 women. Contact Longmuir at ranlong@telus.net or 250-248-8515 to register.