Getting fit has become a national craze. Shows like "The Biggest Loser" have given way to local competitions such as the one held recently for Pine Bluffs area residents. On the prowl for healthy food, area residents have a handful of places to dine or supply home kitchens. But Pine Bluffs residents may still be on the lookout for good places to exercise. Fortunately, options are available.
There are several fitness programs being run through the Pine Bluffs Recreation Department — Senior Shape Up, a workout facility at Wyoming Physical Therapy and Fitness, and new this year, lap swimming at the Pine Bluffs swimming pool.
Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m. the Pine Bluffs swimming pool gate is open to early morning swimmers. Tuesday morning a couple ladies were busy swimming laps, stopping to flutter kick at the side of the deep end and moving to shallower water to do sit ups on the side of the pool. Lifeguard Megan Crandall said an average of 8 people show up each morning to take advantage of the lap swim.
For those who need to head right to work after a swim, a locker room complete with shower facilities is also available. The cost for lap swim is $1 a day, or one may use a family ($60) or individual pass ($30) for the pool. The pool is open until Aug. 24.
Senior Shape Up is a long-standing class held at the Pine Bluffs Community Center. The class runs from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There is no cost for the program which is designed to promote flexibility, muscle strength, coordination and overall fitness.
At a recent class a group of six ladies gathered to work their way through an exercise video expressly designed for senior citizens. Some exercises are done standing and some seated in a chair. While not lead by a live instructor, there is recreation staff on site during this class in case of an emergency.
The ladies in this class explained different tapes are used for variety in the exercise regimen, and one is expected to "do what you can." Most of these ladies have been attending for six or seven years and have seen the class size grow and diminish over time.
One added benefit is the comaradarie of sharing with neighbors about one’s day, vacations, or upcoming events in town.
"I like it for the fellowship," Polly Gardner said.
Agreeing, Renee Burry said "I exercise much better if I can talk."
"Yes, I can exercise at home," Betty Fornstrom added, "but there I get it done in no time. This spurs you on to do more."
Burry said she is in the class because it is a necessity. Having had a lung transplant, she has a goal of walking five miles a day. Following the class she and a few others can be found circling the community center gym to log some of those miles.
Senior Shape Up is a year-round program. The gym is available for walkers when the community center doors are open, providing there are no scheduled activities.
Another year round fitness opportunity is available at Wyoming Physical Therapy and Fitness, 322 Main Street.
The facility is manned Monday through Friday from 5 to 7:30 a.m.
Owner Doug Wilson has offered the facility for area resident’s use for about nine years.
"I originally started it so that I could have an exercise facility for my phyiscal therapy clients," Wilson explained. "I realized there was a need for people to go exercise and it kind of grew from there."
Shirley Zorn and Bertha Bowman are regular users of the equipment, both having come under Wilson’s care following knee replacement surgery. Zorn said though her surgery was five years ago, she continues her workouts "so I can walk later in life." The ladies said they ride the bikes and use the treadmills.
"We come just about every day," Bowman said. For them, that means every day but Sunday.
To meet the needs of the community, Wilson offers a place for both his patients and others to use exercise equipment at a reasonable cost. A variety of equipment is available for use including treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights, exercise balls, mats for floor exercise and the elliptical machine.
Wilson reported there is a "pretty steady clientel" with "a lot more in the winter than the summer," which he sees as fairly typical usage.
His goal is to try to make sure people are as healthy as possible, so he wants the facility to be open as long as possible.That being the case, use of the facility any time of day is another bonus to membership. Paying members may sign a waiver in exchange for being given a key to the facility. The cost for one person is $20 per month and $30 per month for families. Patients are given a discounted fee. Members are billed on a monthly basis.
Instruction on the equipment is available when the facility is manned. Wilson said he gives instruction as well, though he is not currently working out of his Pine Bluffs office.
Memberships for the fitness center can be purchased through the recreation department or by calling Wilson’s Cheyenne office at 307-772-0955.
For more information about these fitness opportunities, call Sonja Fornstrom at 245-3301.
