22.03.07 - Magna residents flex their muscles!

Residents at Magna Housing’s sheltered schemes have been able to flex their muscles recently, thanks to new “flexercise” classes which have been held at the communal rooms of the schemes.

The classes, which provide gentle exercises, have been made possible because of a grant of £2000 from Dorset POPP (Partnership for Older People Project). The money has been used to purchase equipment, such as soft balls, parachutes and soft rubber rings in vibrant colours, which is used during the classes.

Class leader for the Lyme Regis area, Fiona Blackmore, said, “ We all know that keeping fit is one of the key ways of living longer, so it is great that we are able to encourage people to stay active as they get older.”

Around 10 people attend each of the classes which are already being held on Sheltered housing sites in Lyme Regis, Bridport, Dorchester and Sherborne . One of the regular participants, said, “I am 92 years old and I really look forward to the Flexercise, it is so much fun.”

Jan Burwood, sheltered housing officer for Magna, has been instrumental in setting up sessions in Lyme Regis. Both Jan and Fiona hope to extend flexercise to the Charmouth area in the near future.

None of this would have been possible without the aid of the grant from POPP. Carey Chant, support services manager, said, “We are so grateful to POPP for giving us the money to buy the equipment. We were very lucky to get the maximum amount of money they could have allocated, but it really has been put to very good use.”

Anyone who is interested in attending one of the classes should call 01305 216069.

 

Last updated 22.03.07