How do you stay fit as a senior here in town when so many of your options have been removed? Local recreation facilities have been closed due to provincial health guidelines during the pandemic.

Staff at The Happy Gang 55 + Society (The Happy Gang) are hopeful they will be able to reopen their doors to their members once provincial guidelines are relaxed, so they can offer a number of fitness and health and wellness programs again.

But one thing local seniors can do is purchase, or borrow from facilities like the library, fitness materials. Materials like videos on how to sit and be fit, practice yoga, and tai chi.

Town councillor Bob Sobol explained that while options are limited right now, there are exercise programs that the public are able to do in the house. “YouTube and the Internet in general can provide lots of great ideas and suggestions.  Next, of course, is for the public to continue taking advantage of the Towns great pathways - and from what I have seen on my recent walks, many have already discovered this,” said Sobol.

The Happy Gang’s facility is currently closed to the public as they are following provincial COVID-19 guidelines. 

Once open again The Happy Gang offers activities where you can social distance and still play like Bridge, Canasta, and Mah Jong.

Some activities that usually take place at the Happy Gang are pool/billiards on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is a functional fitness program from 9 to 10 a.m. and then from 10 to 11 a.m. yoga classes.

Then on Monday afternoons, they host line dancing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10:45 seniors can enjoy low-impact walking. The walking program is done in the hall, and in the summertime, participants use the town’s pathways. The program is the equivalent of walking three miles.

Each of these activities have been shuttered because of COVID-19 including social gatherings like potluck suppers. 

“Naturally, these are strange times, and we must all continue to do our best to prevent the spread of a pandemic - something none of us have ever had to deal with in our lives.  There is light at the end of this very long tunnel, but it will be months before we start looking at a ‘return to normal.’” said the town councillor. 

To find out more about recreation services offered by the Strathmore Happy Gang the group maintains a website at https://www.thehappygang.ca.