Think dance and yoga is just for young folks? Think again, because Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) is proving that age is just a number! In honor of National Senior Health and Fitness Day on Wednesday, May 29, dancercise, gentle tai chi, chair yoga and low-impact aerobics will be offered at 21 senior and community centers across the County.
National Senior Health and Fitness Day takes place annually in May in recognition of Older Americans Month, and is organized through a public/private partnership with Mature Market Resource Center, a national information clearinghouse for the aging market. Local events are facilitated by Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) and its Health and Wellness Collaborative, comprised of 21 partnering community organizations.
Senior Health and Fitness Day programs are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 29, with the exception of a few activities taking place later in the week. Programs will be held throughout Westchester at one of the 21 senior and community centers. All programs are free and open to Westchester residents who are 60 years or older. For information regarding specific activities, schedules and registration requirements, participants are asked to contact the centers directly. A program for Spanish-speaking seniors will also be provided.
2019 National Senior Health and Fitness Day Locations:
Briarcliff Manor/StepWISEnow Balance Fitness: (914) 292-0602
Beginner Tai Chi (Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention) and Balance Basics class.
Cortlandt / Muriel Morabito Community Center: (914) 528-1572 (Friday, May 31)
Low Impact Aerobics & Muscle Strengthening / Flexibility Class, Zumba Gold, lunch and raffle prizes.
Eastchester / Lake Isle Senior Center: (914) 337-0390
Tap Dancing w/Paula Tarantino - practice for upcoming performances, Medicare Minute with Micaela and Energetic Exercise with Evey - Strength Building and Cardio, Exercise and Video Presentation and Discussion, healthy lunch and raffle prizes.
Greenburgh / Theodore Young Community Center: (914) 989-3600
Open Yoga, “Stretch Your Body, Stretch Your Life” presentation, Line Dancing, Bingo, healthy lunch, snacks and raffle prizes.
Town of Mamaroneck Senior Center: (914) 834-8840
Line Dancing, healthy lunch, snacks and raffles, “Stay Strong and Fit” exercise class.
Mount Kisco Senior Nutrition Program: (914) 666-8931
Blood Pressure Screening, Mat Yoga followed by healthy lunch and raffle prizes.
Mount Pleasant Community Center: (914) 592-6441
Line dancing, special lunch and raffle prizes. Classes on Qi Gong, Fit and Flex, Chair Yoga, Seniorcize, Strength & Tone, Strong and Fit also offered during the week. Call for exact times and dates.
Mount Vernon Armory Senior Center: (914) 665-2315
Meet and Greet, Nutritious Breakfast, Exercise with Mike, Tai Chi with Angela, Spa Time, healthy lunch, Blood Pressure and Glucose Monitoring by Mt. Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, Silver Sneakers Fitness Class, giveaways and raffles.
Mt. Vernon / WJCS Senior Nutrition Program: (914) 668-4350 (Monday, June 24)
Chair Aerobics, documentary presentation of “NY Street Games”, healthy lunch, street games, and nutrition presentation by DSPS registered dietitian nutritionist, Kathy Santoro with raffle prizes.
New Rochelle Hugh A. Doyle Senor Center: (914) 235-2363
Stay Strong and Fit Exercise class, healthy lunch and raffle prizes, Tai Chi for Balance provided by Westchester Medical Center.
Ossining Senior Center: (914) 762-1350
Group Nature Walk, Nutrition Jeopardy and Healthy Snacks presented by Antonella Caggiano, RDN of WCDSPS, healthy lunch, Shopping for Healthy Foods Grocery Store Trip. Additional activities available such as water aerobics with pool pass and low impact aerobics with small fee.
Peekskill Senior Center: (914) 734-4250 ext. 2
Scenic morning walk along Peekskill’s Riverfront, Stay Strong and Fit Exercise class and Nutrition Trivia Jeopardy Board presented by DSPS Registered Dietitian Theresa George, MS, RDN.
Port Chester Senior Center: (914) 939-4975
Nutrition presentation with DSPS registered dietitian nutritionist, Kathy Santoro, zumba and nutritious lunch and raffle prizes.
Rye YMCA: (914) 967-6363 (Tuesday, May 28, must register and be 62 years old or older)
Blood pressure monitoring, lunch, guest speaker presentation, Fitness Classes including Chair Exercise, Tai Chi and Zumba. Raffle prizes.
Somers Nutrition Program: (914) 232-0807
Water Color Class, Strength and Balance class, MahJong, healthy lunch and raffle prizes.
White Plains: (914) 422-1331
Day-long program of activities including health talks on “Healthy Eating & Living Well”, “Mindfulness”, “Exercise & Stroke Prevention” and “Exercise for Fall Prevention,” “Healthy Living for Brain and Body” and “Increasing your Happiness Quotient”. Chair Yoga class, lunch and raffles. Hosted by The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Sponsored by Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains Hospital, White Plains Recreation and Parks Community Center.
White Plains: CenterLight Health Center. Program presented in Spanish. For more information and registration, call (914) 813-6396.
Speaker on Brain Health, Zumba to Stay Active, lunch and presentation, “The Importance of Maintaining Oral Health.”
Yonkers: (914) 377-6825
Yoga, Enhance Fitness class, Active Healthy Hearts, Zumba, The Senior Games and Culinary Demos. Health and Wellness information tables, lunch available with reservation. Program held at the at the Yonkers P.A.L. building located at 127 North Broadway. Sponsored by Yonkers Office for the Aging, City of Yonkers Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Yonkers Police Athletic League and the Yonkers YMCA.
Yonkers YWCA: (914) 963-0640 x105
Dance Aerobics, chair yoga special lunch and raffle prizes.
Yorktown Senior Nutrition Center: (914) 962-7447
Group fitness walk and stretch around track, nutritious lunch and raffle prizes.
YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester: (914) 949-6227
Lap Swimming, Step and Stretch, Aqua Zumba, Exercise with Cardio and Weights, Tai Chi for Breast Cancer Survivors and Pilates and Yoga. Pool open for free and lap and open swim during various times during the day.
Westchester County senior citizens should mark their calendars and register for the annual Pool Party and Barbecue set for Tuesday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Saxon Woods Pool in White Plains.