SAIL classes keep seniors moving and active

MOSES LAKE — It can be difficult to stay mobile, let alone fit, after a certain age, which is why senior centers around the Basin offer SAIL, or Stay Active and Independent for Life, classes. 

“The physicians in town are even recommending it,” said instructor Kaye Ward, who was leading a SAIL class at the Moses Lake Senior Center Monday. “When you have a knee replacement or something, they tell you to come here and then you don't have to do physical therapy. This is good physical therapy.” 

The hour-long class started out very gently, with about a dozen exercisers sitting in chairs and twirling their feet in a slow circle, first in one direction and then the other. From there, they graduated to tapping their toes and heels, still sitting, and then to arm and leg thrusts before getting up and walking around the room.  

Step by step the group moved into more and more strenuous activity: doing bends, dancing the twist and walking heel-to-toe to improve balance. A playlist of 1960s and 70s music set the tempo and Luis Alfaro, one of the people in the class, counted off reps as needed. Participants paused to hydrate frequently. 

“Everybody take a slug from the jug,” Ward said every few minutes. “You’ve got to keep up with the water.” 

The first 25 minutes are the aerobic part, Ward said, which she called high-density.  

“When they first start, I have them raise their hands like this,” she said, holding her arms out straight, “instead of all the way. The higher you raise your hands, the higher the density. If you haven’t exercised in years, it’ll put you on the floor if you don’t.” 

After that, the class takes a few minutes to cool off by stretching. 

“We stretch our muscles out, and then we do the arm weights,” she said. “We make sure that we take deep breaths and stretch, and I encourage everybody to drink water, because we are actually working very hard.” 

SAIL originated in Seattle and quickly spread across the country, Ward said. It’s a public domain program, according to the website, which means that senior centers and other organizations can use it without paying any fees. Participants in the class at Moses Lake Senior Center chip in a dollar each to help keep the lights and air conditioning on, Ward said. 

Ward, who is 83, does everything the class does. She has a little bit of an advantage, she said, because she studied ballet when she was younger. The classes are doing her a great deal of good, she said. 

“When I miss a week, I'm a little less vibrant, you know?” she said. “And everybody has said to me, ‘Boy, when I take a day off, it really sucks.’” 

Eighty-year-old Jodi Madison felt the same way. 

“This is the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time,” she said. “And I feel absolutely fantastic.” 

Karen Singer began coming to the classes when she had her knees replaced in 2016, she said.  

“The physical therapist recommended it,” she said. “I’ve had no trouble whatsoever with my knees since. I think it really helps. It keeps you moving.” 

    Kaye Ward, front, leads a SAIL, or Stay Active and Independent for Life, class at the Moses lake Senior Center Monday.
  

    SAIL class participants get their aerobic steps in at the Moses Lake Senior Center Monday.
  

    Karen Singer works out with hand weights at the Moses Lake Senior Center’s SAIL class Monday.