Strong Women Classes Forming

To register: Click on the picture, print out the form, fill it in, and send to Penn State Cooperative Extension, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA  17202, or FAX to 263-9228

My colleague, Mary Ann Oyler, Cooperative Extension Educator for Family and Consumer Sciences announces the Fall schedule for the Strong Women Program in Franklin County. Originally developed by Dr. Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University in Boston, the Strong Women Program provides twice a week sessions for a period of six weeks.

This research based program is designed to help increase strength, bone density, balance and energy. Not designed as a weight reduction program, the strength-training exercises promote proper body awareness, positioning, flexibility and posture and have been proven to reduce the risk for osteoporosis and related fractures.

Barbara Benzaquen and Theresa Lopez do arm curls during the Strong Women strength-training program at Espanola’s Lucero Recreation Center from a similar program sponsored by New Mexico State University in Rio Arriba County, NM.

Designed for women 40 and older, it is intended to keep participants mobile and independent longer and to improve the quality of life as we age. Past participants locally have ranged in age from 43 to 88 years old.

The program also has a nutrition component, providing basic information on subjects such as Whole Grains, Vitamin D, Calcium Rich Eating, Omega Fatty Acids, etc. Participants often share healthy recipes with each other. Classes are conducted by Penn State Cooperative Extension trained instructors who also fit the age guidelines for the program.

American women over age 65 have a 50 percent chance of suffering from osteoporosis and the lifetime risk of fractures in women older than 50 years is nearly 40 percent. Helping to maintain bone mass and reducing the likelihood of a fracture is done through weight bearing exercises, whereby participants use hand held weights and ankle weights to perform simple exercises. All exercises are done from a sitting or standing position. Classes start with simple stretching and proceed with the exercises, concluding with cool down movements.

Classes take one hour, meet twice a week, and run for six weeks. The cost is $45.00 for the whole six week session (12 classes). Pre-registration is preferred but potential participants are welcome to attend the first session to determine if the class is a good fit for them.

Cooperative Extension is offering Strong Women classes at various locations throughout the county.

Chambersburg: Classes will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning August 31, 2010 at Fourth St. Church of the Brethren, 260 South 4th Street, Chambersburg

Chambersburg: Classes will be from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays beginning September 13, 2010 at The Penn State Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg

Fayetteville: Classes will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays beginning August 30, 2010 at New Guilford Brethren In Christ Church, 1575 Mont Alto Road, Fayetteville

Shippensburg: Classes will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning August 31, 2010 at Memorial Lutheran Church, 34 East Orange Street, Shippensburg

Waynesboro: Classes will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning August 31, 2010 at Faith United Methodist Church, Waynesboro

Mercersburg: Classes will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning August 31, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, Mercersburg

Mercersburg: Classes will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning August 31, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, Mercersburg

Greencastle: Classes will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning October 12, 2010 at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greencastle

For additional information, please contact Mary Ann Oyler or the support staff at Penn State Cooperative Extension in Chambersburg, 263-9226 Ext. 229.

You can click on the brochure picture at the beginning of this post, print it, and register by filling in the information and sending it in to Penn State Cooperative Extension at 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202.