Monday, Jan. 4 and Wednesday, Jan. 6 – Free 10-minute online sessions to get the body moving and help meet your new fitness goals
San Diego CA— This year has been challenging for many, especially older adults, and with gyms and exercise centers closing their doors, it made it even more difficult to stay on top of fitness and health goals. That’s why San Diego Oasis is making it easy to move our resolutions to actions with its annual “Fitness-Palooza” event.
Fitness and health goals are often among the top 4 resolutions people make. According to a 2018 poll, Americans in 2019 resolved to exercise more (13%), quit smoking (12%), lose weight (10%) and eat healthier (9%). Resolutions are not just for the young. Older adults who live their life with purpose are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and also retain strong hand grips and walking speeds.
‘Fitness-Palooza’ is Jan. 4, 2021 and Jan. 6, 2021
San Diego Oasis, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to change the way people experience aging, will host its “Fitness-Palooza” event on Monday, Jan. 4 and Wednesday, Jan. 6, and for the first time ever this popular event will be all online! The virtual event will start at 9 a.m. PST each day on San Diego Oasis’ YouTube Channel. Viewers can watch at their leisure and the videos will be available and remain on the channel.
Co-sponsored by Sharp Healthcare, Westmont Senior Living, SDG&E and CarePatrol, “Fitness-Palooza” will give attendees the opportunity to view classes that are offered during San Diego Oasis’ spring semester. This year’s “Fitness-Palooza” theme, “Let’s Do This,” encourages older adults 50+ to come together to find their new favorite exercise obsession. From line dancing to Tai Chi to Zumba to stretching, event attendees will get an array of different exercise classes that San Diego Oasis offers. “I started attending Oasis classes when the COVID-19 pandemic started to help recover from a heart condition earlier this year,” says Jan Garbosky, retired educator, LGBTQ+ advocate and San Diego Oasis student. “I’m looking forward to attending my first-ever ‘Fitness-Palooza’ to continue learning new fitness techniques to help me stay healthy and active at home.”
Not only does regular exercise provide physical benefits, but also motivation, accountability, and inclusion. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created many barriers, but also provided opportunities for our team to turn what was once our in-person classes to a completely online experience open to anyone around the country,” says Simona Valanciute, CEO and president, San Diego Oasis. “Our students have been completely integrated into online learning, including our health and fitness workshops, which continue to be some of our most popular classes helping our older adults keep moving their bodies and minds during these constantly changing and uncertain times.”
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever to keep older adults connected and active. Older adults ages 50 and over are not only in the highest risk category of contracting the virus, but also for isolation and loneliness. One study says that prolonged isolation and loneliness is equivalent, and as lethal to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But when older adults can actively engage, they have a positive attitude, feel more connected and curious to explore the world.
“We encourage our students and any older adults interested in trying our classes to attend ‘Fitness-Palooza,” says Valanciute. “Each free 10-minute session will provide a great overview of what can be expected from the online classes and to also try an exercise you may have never done before. All of our instructors encourage, motivate and take it one movement at a time to make sure no one gets left behind. Let ‘Fitness-Palooza’ spark a passion for fitness you never knew you had before!”
Confirmed Schedule for San Diego Oasis ‘Fitness-Palooza’
Part 1: Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 – Starting at 9 a.m. PST
- Line Dancing for Beginners | Fern Helms
- Bone-Building Fitness | Russell Rowe
- Progressive Strength, Balance & Flexibility Training | Elinor Smith
- Essentrics, Classical Stretch | Susan Hahn
Part 2: Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 – Starting at 9 a.m. PST
- Better Balance: Free From Falls | Russell Rowe
- Tai Chi Chuan: Beginners | Pat Griffith
- Zumba Gold | Pam Toomes
- Gentle Yoga | Kerry Wilson
To learn more about “Fitness-Palooza,” upcoming Oasis classes or to make a donation, visit www.sandiegooasis.org and youtube.com/user/SanDiegoOasis.
About San Diego Oasis
San Diego Oasis, an award-winning nonprofit organization, is on a mission to change the way people experience aging and pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful lives through education and community service. The community-based organization hosts over 3,000 workshops annually at over 40 locations to 5,600 active participants throughout San Diego County, and is now delivering programs and workshops with their virtual senior center in response to the COVID-19 shelter-in place health order. The nonprofit’s Intergenerational Literacy Tutoring Program matches an older adult in the life of an at-risk, low-income student in grades K-4. Their flagship center, located in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center, is an exemplary model of engagement for people age 50 and better. Learn more at www.SanDiegoOasis.org, connect on Facebook or call 619-881-6262.