Older adults don’t have to reach for a pill box to take a prescription to improve their health - they can lace up their tennis shoes and join the Feeling Fit Club! Experts agree that participating in regular physical activity is one of the healthiest things a person can do. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), when older adults lose the ability to do things on their own it is usually not because they have aged, it is because they have not remained active. But for seniors who may not currently be active, taking the first step can be daunting. The Feeling Fit Club is a free exercise program for those over 50 that makes it comfortable and easy to take the first step toward a healthy lifestyle, including more physical activity.

The Feeling Fit Club is a fitness exercise program offered throughout San Diego County via on-site and on-screen classes hosted by trained instructors. Seniors can attend in-person classes at nearly 30 community sites across the county. Encouraging instructors, friendly classmates, and fun music help those who are new or returning to exercise feel welcome. The classes include four core components: strength, balance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility. All moves and exercises can be adapted to various physical abilities and can be performed from either a standing or seated position.

For older adults who may be homebound or for those who would like the convenience of exercising at home, the Feeling Fit Club offers a television program that is shown twice daily on three local stations and a video/DVD program for home use. There are five unique episodes which build in difficulty from Monday to Friday. The Feeling Fit Club can be seen at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Cox channel 19 or 24; Time Warner Cable on Channel 85; and on AT&T U-verse on Channel 99.

Recent research from a San Diego State University study on a subset of Feeling Fit Club participants shows that the program helps increase body strength, mobility, and aerobic fitness when compared to a group of older adults not participating in the program.

There’s no better time than now to get moving and make a commitment to better health.  Physical activity can improve health as well as help people prevent and manage many chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

To learn more about the Feeling Fit Club, view a current class and television schedule, or find information on ordering a DVD/stretch band for use at home, visit: www.HealthierLivingSD.org.

For a list of on-site classes across the county, download the current Feeling Fit Schedule.