Move and Groove
by Linda Roy
I would like to share not only my own perspective of Move and Groove, but also how my fellow participants feel about this fitness class. Thank you to Judy, Shirley, Gwen, Lee, Muna, Shelly, Pat, Donna, Sharon, and Dianne for taking the time to answer my questionnaire.
It all started when WCA hired Nancy Ehle, founder and CEO of Witness 4 Fitness, to teach her Move and Groove class at the community centre one Friday morning per week. Due to high demand, WCA recently added a second class on Wednesday mornings. We have several options: prepayment for Wednesday or Friday, both Wednesday and Friday (most popular), and drop-in. Registration for each seven-week session goes through Sue and Erin in the office to make sure the maximum of 18 is not exceeded.
Most attendees, me included, are retired or semi-retired and were looking for a reasonably priced fitness class, close to home, that was designed for a seniors’ level. Although this popular fitness program is primarily geared toward mobile ladies 55+, regardless of your sex or age, unless the class is full, you will be welcome. In the past, a gentleman was a regular, and more recently a charming young mother came with her two-month-old son, much to the anticipation and delight of us older gals.
Many ladies arrive early to chat and help Nancy set up chairs around the periphery of the upstairs hall. But there is no sitting down in this class! The chair backs are there for any of us who might need a little support during the balance exercises.
When I asked the ladies how they would describe the class to an outsider they had this to say:
Muna: “Nancy is a great instructor, her classes are full of fun activities, great music, and wonderful ladies with the same goal.”
Judy: “The class is easy to follow, and the atmosphere is awesome. The participants are friendly and engaging. I look forward to the classes and miss them dearly when they are not running.”
Gwen: “Classes are a mix of aerobics, toning, and core exercise. Each person can work at their own pace following the instructor. It’s designed to be an enjoyable workout with lots of variety.”
The ladies reported improvement to their posture, balance, muscle strength and tone, as well as a boost in energy levels and confidence. Other noteworthy benefits are reduced or alleviated muscle, joint, and back pain, and even weight loss. Consistent throughout all responses is warm praise for Nancy’s engaging, inclusive teaching style. And Nancy goes one step further: following the last class of each session, she organizes a lunch at a local restaurant which is a nice treat for the group.
For me, Gwen summarized it best: “The atmosphere is part of why I don’t want to miss a single class. It’s as much about building a community as it is about keeping fit.” And in a nutshell, that’s what Move and Groove is all about!
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