By Gia Hale
Gilroy
– Gavilan College is offering free physical education classes
for disabled and older adult students in hopes that they can take
advantage of the chance to improve both their physical and mental
fitness.
Gilroy – Gavilan College is offering free physical education classes for disabled and older adult students in hopes that they can take advantage of the chance to improve both their physical and mental fitness.
“It’s good for their general health and well being,” said Christina Andrade of Gavilan College’s Older Adult Division.
The college is offering three individualized PE programs designed to meet the needs of students who are physically limited or disabled and for adult students 55 and older.
“The response has been really good,” Andrade said. “We’ve been having anywhere from 15 to 20 students in each class.”
One of the classes, offered through the Disabled Student Services Division, is Adapted PE, a physical education class for any student diagnosed with a physical disability.
“It helps to keep range of motion, increase strength and increase endurance,” Andrade said.
The college has been offering Adapted PE for more than 10 years, but this is only the second year it has offered classes for older adults.
“This is the second fall semester,” Andrade said. “The feedback has been real good.”
Any Gavilan student 55 or older is eligible to enroll in two different PE classes being offered. Music, Movement and Wellness promotes circulation and fitness for older adults, and Tai Chi is designed as a slow movement class for adults with joint issues, such as arthritis.
“People have been getting comments from their doctors that their blood pressure and their mood have improved,” Andrade said.
Andrade said the PE classes are more motivating than trying to exercise alone.
“Exercise is done better in a group,” she said. “When we exercise alone we often find excuses not to do it.”
Andrade said participating in the classes is not only good for physical health, but for mental health as well.
“There’s a lot of encouragement from the instructors and from fellow students,” she said. “It builds self-esteem and encourages social interaction.”
Adapted PE classes are from 11:10am to noon Mondays and Wednesdays beginning today and ending Dec. 13. Tai Chi classes began Aug. 31 and are from 11am to noon Thursdays until Dec. 21. Participants must have an application at Gavilan College for Disabled Student Services Division of Older Adult Division and must be enrolled in the class. For more information, contact Christina Andrade or Vicky Rivera at 637-9275.
