Self-isolation isn’t going to prevent a community of local seniors from staying active and engaged – thanks to a little help from Niagara College.
Alexa Schonewille, who works as a clinical exercise physiologist in NC’s Community and Health Studies department – and is a recent graduate of the College’s Exercise Science for Health and Performance (2018) – is now hosting fitness classes via Zoom for seniors at Radiant Care’s Tabor Manor in St. Catharines.
They may be remote but the classes are still an opportunity for participants to interact with their instructor as well as one another. With their cameras and microphones turned on, participants are able to see and hear one another and gain helpful feedback from Schonewille as they follow her exercise demonstrations.
In addition to the health benefits of staying active and physically fit, Shonewille noted how the sessions play a key role in keeping seniors connected.
“Social isolation is difficult for everyone, especially those who are very active and typically extroverted. Most of the members from the fitness centre attend three-to-five days a week and are active and social,” said Schonewille. “The Zoom fitness classes give participants the opportunity to connect with familiar faces from the fitness centre and continue to be active and engaged, from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Activity and socialization is important on a regular basis and is especially important during a global pandemic.”
Through the 40-minute circuit-style classes, Schonewille guides participants through a gentle warm-up, revving up to a set of full-body and balance exercises. At times, she incorporates small household items into the exercises – ones that participants can easily access – to use as body weights. Sessions wrap up with a cool-down segment, involving deep breathing and stretching to promote healing and recovery.
“With only having the space in our homes and individuals having limited access to equipment, I am making the classes simple yet effective with the space participants have around them,” she said. “I also want as many people to be able to participate as possible, so I am attempting to make the classes inclusive for all.”
Participants noted how they value the opportunity to participate in the virtual classes.
“I am very thankful for the Zoom classes since we cannot go to the fitness centre,” said Helene Boldt. “It works well, and you make it interesting. So, thank you very much, Alexa!”
“Seeing the other fitness class members on zoom makes us feel part of the group that always came throughout the week and it’s especially nice knowing that everyone seems to be safe and well,” said participants Rudy and Elsie Siemens. “Zoom helps us feel socially connected and supported by our friends, which is so necessary in these days of isolation, and it helps us to keep in shape physically, emotionally and mentally.”
Schonewille has been working with NC students to help seniors with exercise programming at Tabor Manor’s fitness and wellness centre since in January 2019. The partnership began as a pilot project – funded in part by the government of Ontario’s Career Ready Fund Grant at that time. Recent NC graduates and students on co-op placements began to provide instruction, coaching and encouragement to seniors using its fitness facility.
Schonewille has been continuing her work to provide safe and effective exercise programs for seniors who are members of Tabor Manor’s fitness centre. She has been supporting NC students from programs including Fitness and Health Promotion, Exercise Science for Health and Performance, and Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant programs who are gaining valuable industry experience for their placement hours executing fitness assessments, creating and implementing individual exercise programs, facilitating group exercise classes, and hosting wellness seminars.
When the fitness centre closed to all members because of COVID-19, Shonewille began working with Tabor Manor officials to execute a plan to continue virtual classes remotely. The virtual fitness classes launched on April 8.
With a positive response from participants, Shonewille noted she expects they will become more popular as more take notice. She is considering ramping up the number of weekly sessions from three to five.
“There’s a huge value add by having the exercises performed virtually. Specifically, Alexa and the people involved in the Fitness and Wellness Centre have developed strong bonds and relationships with each other,” said Radiant Care Tabor Manor CEO Tim Siemens.
He noted that when they closed the home to visitors – including family members – and shut down activities in the Fitness and Wellness Centre due to COVID-19, they were aware of the negative impacts self-isolation can have from a social psychological and emotional perspective. The virtual fitness classes are one initiative to help mitigate this, by enabling participants to communicate from a safe distance.
“Our home is big on supporting ‘community’ and supporting and sustaining relationships that go with creating community,” he said. “With Alexa’s help, vigour and willingness to learn, she was able to carry out an interactive, face-to-face activity that despite, and perhaps in spite of COVID-19, helps support and sustain relationships, which we consider an important part of how Radiant Care defines relational excellence.”
NC dean of Community and Health Studies Carolyn Triemstra applauded the initiative.
“Our partnership with Tabor Manor continues to be strong,” said Triemstra. “Alexa has continued to care for the health and fitness of the seniors by working through all of the kinks of online delivery of an exercise class, facilitated through Zoom. This is a great feature of caring for seniors living in the community while coping with the challenges of social isolation and decreased opportunity for physical fitness.”
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