Ashburton Courier: November 04, 2021

Ageing
Well
Keeping Active in Level 2
Did you know, the second best thing you can do
to protect yourself from the effects of Covid-19
(the 1st being vaccination) is to improve your
fitness.
Ashburton District community strength and
balance classes continue to run at alert level
2 with all classes complying to health and
safety requirements, including public health
requirements related to Covid-19. When you
come along to an exercise class youwill need to:
• Scanorsignin
• Maintaining twometresdistancing from others
• Wear amask on entering and exiting the venue.
Youmay takeyour mask off when exercising
• Stayhomeifyou arefeeling unwell
Improved strength and balance
Astrength andbalanceclass in Ashburton has given
one local woman the abilitytoset goals and achieve
thingsshe thoughtwereinher past.
Ngaire MacKenzie is an 80-year-old Mid Canterbury
resident who had been struggling with everyday
movement due to an arm injury and hip problems.
Her arm injury had resulted in ametal plate being
inserted into her left arm which never healed
properly. She also had toundergo hip repairment
surgerybecause of an earlier double hip dislocation.
Both injuries leftNgairewith reduced mobility.
A collaborative approach between the Falls
Champion Service’s Allison Maconochie and Sport
Canterbury’sAimeeCosgrove who delivers the Green
Prescription service inMid Canterbury, has enabled
Ngaire to make significantprogress in herrecovery.
One step that has helped her immensely has been
heading along tothe local strength and balance
accredited class –Evolve.
Ngaire had beendoing well with her homeexercises
prescribed from Allison at the Falls ChampionService
but needed an extension from this. Allison referred
her to Aimee to assist her further through the Green
Prescription service.
“After our consultationNgaireand Idecided that she
would benefit from Evolve classes at the EA Networks
Centre in Ashburton. She isabsolutely loving the
class and doingreallywell,”saysAimee.
Amonth on, Ngaire has been blown away by the
considerable changes she has made inthe first four
weeks alone.
“I couldn’t do much when I started, I couldn’t lift my
body off the ground, as I’ve gone on, I can do more
each time.
Strength andBalanceclasses
Age Concern STEADY ASYOU GO © classes
STEADY ASYOU GO © is agentle exercise class
developed through Age Concern and based offthe Otago
Exercise Programme.
Contact: Age Concern Ashburton
Phone: 033086817
Cost: $2
Methven, All Saints Church
1Chapman Street
Tuesdays at10.30am
Rakaia, Presbyterian Church
Main South Road
Tuesdays at1pm
Staveley, Staveley Hall
13 Boyds Road
Wednesday at2pm
Ashburton:
Hakatere Church Rooms, 65Oxford Street, Ashburton
Tuesday at 1.30am
Saint David’s Church, 48 Allens Road, Allenton
Wednesday at9.30am
Buffalo Lodge, 20Cox Street
Wednesday at10.30am and 1.30pm
Thursday at 1pm
Holy Spirit Church, 52 Thomson Street, Tinwald
Thursdays at 11am
Saint Stephens Church, 60 Park Street, Allenton
Thursdays at 1pm
“The fact that you notice the difference that’s the
big thing for me-my balance has improved, Ihave
abigger range of movement and Iamnow able to
balance without touching the chair for support,”she
adds.
What appeals to her about Evolve isthe variety and
rangeofactivities each week as well as the challenge
it offers her.
“I’ve found itquite achallenge -but it’s good, we
never know what wewill bedoing –there are the
basic exercises wedoeach week, but you see them
getting out equipmentand think,‘Oh, Iwonder what
we aredoingtoday.’
“We domind coordination, brain exercises, weights,
we play games and do activities to get our minds
working –it’s quite fun really, Ijust find itsuits me,”
Dru Yoga
Agraceful and potent form of yoga, based on flowing
movements, directed breathing and visualisation.
Class includes 30 minutes of relaxation.
Contact: Janet Cross
Phone: 03 303 6067
Where: Tinwald Catholic Church Hall
52 Thomson Street, Ashburton
When: Tuesdays 5.45pm –7.45pm
Wednesday 10.15am -12pm
Thursday 6.30pm –8.15pm
Cost: $18
TaiChi &Qigong by Philomena
Aclass that encourages you togive it agoand work to your
ability. Increasing your mobility, balance and leg strength.
Contact: Philomena McIlroy
Mobile: 027 408 7372
Where: Ashburton Club &MSA
When: Tuesday 10am
Wednesday 10.45am
Wednesday class is mainly seated, walking aides welcome in
this class.
Thursday10.45am
Cost: $3
Feel Good Fitness For You
Our class combines simple dance moves, guided circuit
exercise and finishes with relaxation.
Contact: Sonita
Phone: 03 302 7179 or 027 243 4917
Where: Saint Andrews Church Hall, Rakaia
When: Monday and Wednesday at 6pm
Cost: $8
she adds.
Ngaire also puts her enjoyment ofthe class down to
the warm and safe environmentboth the participants
and the instructors have created.
“I’ve met new, like minded people, weare all doing
the same thing together and it’s avery supportive
atmosphere-the instructors don’t ask youtodoany
morethanyouare able to do.
“I knew on the very first dayIwenttothe class thatit
wasgoingtobe forme,”she adds.
She is thrilled with the progress she has made so far
and will continuetoattendEvolveeachweek.
“I’m 80years old, enjoying the challenge and seeing
the improvementsinmybody.
“I’m prettyproud of myself,” she adds.
Taichi and Qigong by Helen
Enjoy learning gentle exercises and forms to improve strength,
flexibility and balance.
Contact: Helen Patterson
Phone: 027 498 7225
Where: Upstairs at St John Rooms,
Tancred Street, Ashburton
When: Monday 9.15am
Monday 10.30am (beginners)
Tuesday 9am
Tuesday 10.30am
Cost: $60 per term
Evolve
Afunctional exercise class using equipment.
Contact: Jenny Soal
Phone: 03 307 7870
Where: EA Networks Centre
When: 11am Tuesdays and Fridays
Cost: $11
Multi class offers and memberships available
(includes EA gym and Aqua classes)
Classes with the “Approved
Strength and Balance Programme”
tick, provide asafe and effective
exercise environment for adults.
2428155