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Chance to get 'Fit as a Fiddle'
TECHNOLOGY and exercise come together in a new fitness class starting in Gainsborough this month.
Age Concern’s hour-long Fit as a Fiddle classes combine music and Nintendo Wii machines to make exercise fun and enjoyable for older people.
Gentle exercise to music is done standing or sitting so classes are suitable for anyone, regardless of physical ability.
Wii Sports uses a wireless controller to interact with the console through infra-red, and games such as tennis, bowling and golf can be played from a chair or standing.
Blaise Thomas, project co-ordinator for Age Concern Lindsey, said the emphasis is on fun.
“The classes are something you can enjoy, that gets you out of the house to meet both new and old friends and get fit as well,” she said.
Demonstrations and free samples of different healthy recipes suggest dietary changes without preaching.
Mrs Thomas said: “I do not like the idea of sitting there and telling people how to eat healthily, as they probably know better than me anyway! It is aimed at people who perhaps only cook for one and have fallen into bad habits.”
Brenda Mottram, from Willoughby Close, went to a pilot class at Lea Village Hall and said: “I’ve found I am more supple than I thought I was! It’s a good starting group and hopefully numbers will increase as time goes on.”
Anne Halliwell, 67, lives on The Crescent in Lea. She said: “It was just what I needed to loosen me up. Once you get the hang of the Wii it is good fun, especially the golf and the bowling.”
Her neighbour Marion Woffinden, 62, said: “It was nice relaxing exercise and you can remember them and do them at home.”
The Big Lottery Fund awarded Age Concern England 15.1 million to finance the Fit as a Fiddle campaign over five years, and 1.2 million is available for the East Midlands region.
Mrs Thomas hopes to set up more self-run classes in West Lindsey after successful pilots in Gainsborough.
She runs 12 sessions then hands over to volunteers so she can set up another class elsewhere.
Classes for Grosvenor House Care Home residents will start this year and Mrs Thomas appealed for volunteers to help set up classes in their area.
She is keen for older men to get involved in the classes as Wii Sports provides friendly yet competitive exercise, and said: “It’s a good start to the New Year and a great way of getting rid of all those mince pies!”
Anyone interested in attending or starting up a Fit as a Fiddle class should contact Mrs Thomas on 07507 891116 or 01507 524242 or email fitasafiddle@ace.org.uk
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Weather for Gainsborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
