Free, beginner-friendly exercise classes are open to seniors each week at three locations in St. Charles Parish.
The program, which is led by licensed physical trainer Deborah Autin, is open to both members and nonmembers of Silver Sneakers, a fitness program offered as a benefit through qualifying Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.
Autin, a parish resident who previously taught exercise classes at Anytime Fitness in Luling, began offering the community classes after the gym discontinued group fitness. She contacted Silver Sneakers and began teaching through its Flex program, which allows instructors to hold classes at community locations.
“I started this class two and a half years ago because there’s a need for it,” Autin said. “Consistent exercise is what exercise is. If you’re not exercising consistently, it’s not really exercise.”
Every Monday, Autin teaches Silver Sneakers Classic, a strength training class, at 10 a.m. at the St. Charles Parish West Bank Library in Luling. Chair yoga follows at 11 a.m.
On Tuesdays, residents can join Autin’s strength training class at 10:45 a.m. at New Life Community Church on Lakewood Drive in Luling. On Fridays, Autin teaches a class at Holy Family Church at 10:45 a.m. Each class is 45 minutes long.
There is no cost to attend, and participants do not need to register in advance. They can arrive, sign a waiver and provide their name. The classes are free for both Silver Sneakers members and nonmembers.
“All they need to do is show up,” Autin said. “Really, it can’t be any easier.”
Autin said the Silver Sneakers Classic class focuses on muscular strength, joint mobility, balance and range of motion. The chair yoga class includes seated stretches, twists and balance exercises.
Autin provides resistance bands and other equipment. Participants may bring light hand weights. Exercises can be performed standing or seated, and Autin offers modifications for people with different fitness and mobility levels.
“We have options for everybody,” she said.
The classes are designed primarily for adults 55 and older. She said her students range in age from their 50s to their 90s.
Autin said the music-based classes are beginner friendly and include exercises for muscles and joints, along with activities involving balance, mobility and memory.
“Every class is supposed to be fun,” she said. “It’s supposed to be effective, and you do what you feel like you can do.”
The West Bank Library, New Life Community Church and Holy Family Church agreed to provide locations for the classes.
“We had some great community partners,” Autin said.
Autin, 70, moved to the parish in 1998. She worked in air traffic control for 35 years and retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as an assistant air traffic manager. She began teaching fitness classes in 2010 and later became a certified personal trainer, with additional certifications in yoga, Pilates and working with special populations.
Autin said regular exercise is important for maintaining strength, mobility and independence as people age.
“You have to maintain your mobility, and you have to maintain your independence,” she said. “I believe the only way you can do that is to exercise.”
She encourages people who have not exercised recently to work at their own pace, take breaks and complete only the movements they feel comfortable doing.
“Do what you can,” Autin said. “When you need to take a break, you take a break. It’s better to try and fail than never to try, but you will not fail this class. It’s beginner friendly. The people are very friendly.”
The classes also include a social component. Participants hold a potluck on the last Monday of each month, organize occasional crafts and meet for lunch at least once a month.
Autin said members also check on participants who have missed several classes.
“If they don’t show up for a couple of weeks, we call them,” she said.
For Autin, the classes support both physical and mental health.
“The most important aspect of this is the community that we have in the class,” she said. “I think it’s so important for your mental health, as well as your physical health. We all support each other.”