Council on Aging

Post date: Jan 28, 2019 6:45:25 PM

As we've reached the end of the warmer weather, for the most part that is, we are prepared to return the Harper Center to a sliver of its former activity. Tai Chi instructor Youlin Shi and Exercise instructor Jane Jezouit have divided their classes into 10 person groups to come inside and have class. Tai Chi is a slower, choreographed series of exercises which enhance balance for practitioners and requires spacing by practitioners as a matter of course. As a slow paced activity, Tai Chi will not generate the type of heavy respiration feared in a Covid world. Janes class, a Balance Exercise class is designed to strengthen the core muscle groups through stretching, bending and balancing while standing on one foot. It is a chair based exercise class designed to improve and enhance balance.

All participants are required to wear masks, the chairs used by the Balance class are sanitized after each use. Tai Chi does not use furniture. Participants are encouraged to wear sweaters as the windows and 2 slider doors will be opened to insure ventilation. The use of ceiling fans to further enhance air circulation has not been ruled out. Participants are spaced more than 7 feet apart. As I've said, classes will be no more than 10 people each, both balance and Tai Chi classes will meet once weekly for each group of ten. At this moment this equates to 2 Tai Chi classes and 3 Balance classes, each with different participants.

Unfortunately our standard weekly exercise classes will not be able to begin as of yet as the activity involves more aggressive activity, running in place for example, which creates heavier respiration. There are no plans to restart this class inside at this moment.

Yoga instructor Mary Edgerton will continue to host the chair Yoga classes via Zoom and as the weather slips away, our advanced Yoga class (The non Yogis here at Harper refer to this as the "sit on the floor class") which has been meeting out on the back lawn will likely transition to Zoom initially as well.

We're also looking at small tea and cookie dates, or dogs and beans, etc, of 10 or fewer to begin in November. Bingo games, with individuals seated at individual and spaced card tables are in the "coming attractions" plan. Additionally we are planning for other activities to be made available electronically. We're concerned about isolation and know that we can offer programs inside safely, we have the space to facilitate it.

Speaking of inside, we're hosting a flu shot clinic here at Harper on Thursday, October 29th from 10:00 to noon. All are welcome. And it feels good to use that phrase in an official communication once again, no matter how briefly.