Seniors at Sagewood Stay Fit and Healthy Through Regular Exercise
Sagewood is a senior living community just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, where seniors celebrate healthy living on a daily basis. With 85 acres of natural, rugged beauty in view of the McDowell Mountain Range in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, Sagewood is one of the country’s most beautiful resort-style senior living communities.
It’s easy for seniors at Sagewood to stay busy, with trails to hike, outdoor activities to enjoy, an indoor and outdoor pool, and an on-site fitness and strength-training center.
Fitness Offerings for Every Interest
Sagewood’s fitness offerings include between 30 and 35 land and water classes a week, which run anywhere from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. “On average, roughly 20 residents attend any given class,” said Sagewood’s Fitness Specialist Morgan Garrett. Classes range from intermediate and advanced balance classes, seated and standing yoga, Zumba, and three different levels of Tai Chi, to water aerobics and other water-based exercise.
“We have a resistance-training Aquatone class and a higher intensity Aquacize class,” said Morgan. Sagewood boasts both indoor and outdoor pools, but with the hot Arizona weather, most classes are conducted in the controlled environment of the indoor pool, said Morgan.
The most popular classes are the Balance Classes. “Balance has a lot to do with fall prevention, and residents tend to become very concerned with preventing falls. Balance classes and balance training can definitely help address that,” he said.
The Importance of Staying Fit
Morgan’s team includes Fitness Assistant Jack, and Barry and Cheryl who are specifically trained in Zumba and Tai Chi, respectively. In the five years Morgan has been at Sagewood, he and his team have had the pleasure of watching residents improve their quality of life through exercise. He said the biggest successes, across the board, are when residents who haven’t worked out regularly move in and start exercising.
“All of a sudden [exercise options] are available to them. Residents meet with us, learn how to do it, get excited. They gain confidence and are stimulating those muscles,” said Morgan. “Then they tell us they used to have trouble getting in and out of a chair, and now they can easily do it. Or they used to fear going up and down curbs, now they feel confident stepping up that much. Little things like that go a long way.”
The top benefit of staying fit as one ages, according to Morgan, is overall health, but just as important is the ability to maintain balance and coordination. “It’s about the ability to continue to live your life the way you want to without fear interfering with daily activities.”
Uniquely Sagewood
With the outstanding weather and beautiful, natural surroundings, a favorite way for Sagewood residents to stay fit is through morning walks and regular hiking. “Every morning we’ll have about 10-15 people who will go for a walk. It gets them out of doing the same thing all of the time and allows them to do something different,” said Morgan.
Residents receive a complimentary consultation with a member of the fitness team when they first move to Sagewood or when they need a little restart. Residents also have the option of working one-on-one with an instructor. “It gives them a little boost – either when they first start exercising or after 6 to 8 weeks of doing it, if they need some advancement.”
Another unique aspect about residents working out together at Sagewood is that they get social, which helps hold them accountable for staying the course. “I have seen residents become very social through fitness programs. They know the other residents are going to be there so that encourages them to go more often.”
Whether a resident has been fit their whole life, has never exercised much, or has limitations, Morgan said Sagewood’s fitness team does a great job of meeting the needs of all residents. “We teach classes at different levels and give personalized instruction to meet individual needs. I enjoy having the opportunity to work with so many people and watch them meet the goals they are setting.”
To find out how you can become a part of Sagewood’s senior living community, get in touch with us at 480-948-1398.
