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Thompson’s seniors fun fitness program is back

After three months without a qualified instructor, the Seniors Fun Fitness Program is running again on its old schedule.
Participants in the Seniors Fun Fitness Program perform exercises at Thompson Rotary Place, led by n
Participants in the Seniors Fun Fitness Program perform exercises at Thompson Rotary Place, led by new instructor Mitch Nicolas.

After three months without a qualified instructor, the Seniors Fun Fitness Program is running again on its old schedule. When the previous instructor and developer of the program, Katey Armstrong, resigned and moved to British Columbia after leading it for 12 years, it looked as if the program might be discontinued. The participants, about 50 of them, signed a petition directed to the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) Services to Seniors Program and brought the problem to the attention of the candidates running in the provincial election. Their concerns were heard.

In October, the NRHA hired Mitch Nicholas of Thompson to lead the program. Because Nicolas had already made her fall arrangements, she had to adjust some of her fitness and taekwondo instruction schedule to accommodate the seniors’ schedule and has been leading the open group at Rotary Place since early October. She has just started the in-house fitness program at the Harmony House Residence. Nicolas has her CPR/AED certification, taekwondo black belt and Manitoba Fitness Council certification.

Fun Fitness meets in the Rotary Place common room at 424 Westwood Dr. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to men and women age 55 and older. On Wednesdays, the program includes some taekwondo instructions as well as flexibility and some cardio exercises. Mondays and Fridays are a little gentler with the emphasis on strength and flexibility. Exercises can be modified to meet physical limitations. Participants are welcome, as always, to come all days or just those that work best for them. There is no set session plan, making allowance for health issues, vacation schedules and appointments. New participants are always welcome. Westwood Plaza kindly allows participants to use their parking lot.

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