So, what is FUN-ctional Fitness anyways?
FUN-ctional Fitness is a blend of both FUN and FUNCTIONAL strength and balance training designed specifically to help older adults build RESILIENCE. Resilience is the key to building the physical reserves we need to not only stay independent as we age, but to prevent, and better manage, the chronic disease and illness often associated with aging.
Basically, FUN-ctional Fitness is ALL THE THINGS I wish I could have told my patients to do BEFORE they ended up as my patients. As a Physical Therapist, I see people AFTER they’ve been injured or ill, and too often, these declines are due to inactivity, fear of movement and depleted reserves. FUN-ctional Fitness will give you the tools you need to prevent disease and disability, before it happens.
FUN-ctional Fitness is NOT your Grandma’s exercise class…
We will NOT be doing ‘chair exercises’.
We will NOT be ‘going easy’ because you are older.
We will NOT be wasting your time on things that don’t promote true improvements in strength and balance.
We WILL challenge ourselves to work HARD during each class. We might even break a sweat! We will use bands and weights to add resistance to strength exercise, will use things like speed and power to promote improved ability to move QUICKLY when you need to, and will focus on exercises move your bodies in functional movements designed to not just make you ‘stronger,’ but make you better at doing the things you do in your daily lives - walking safely at home and in the community, getting up and down the stairs, on and off the floor, in and out of bed, picking up grand kids and dogs and groceries…you know, the stuff that MATTERS!
I want in! What do I do? Where do I go?
FUN-ctional Fitness meets each Tuesday, from 9-10AM at the Wakefield Council on Aging.
Please contact the Wakefield Council on Aging (781-245-3312) to join this class or reach out to Katie at Katie@HealthyAgingPT.com or (617) 851 - 5315 with any other questions.
About the Instructor:
Dr. Katie Wadland is a Doctor of Physical therapy, Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and PWR! Moves-Certified Therapist with more than 15 years of experience in inpatient, outpatient and home care rehabilitation settings. Since graduating in 2008 from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, she has worked at some of the region's best hospitals and home care agencies, including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital and Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home, and now owns and operates a Mobile Physical Therapy Practice called Healthy Aging Physical Therapy. She specializes in working with older adults, people with Parkinson’s Disease and other complex medical and neurological diseases and disorders. Katie approaches clinical care with a strong emphasis on both holistic and evidenced-based care. By looking beyond a specific injury or impairment, instead focusing on the whole person, she takes great pride in helping each of her patients to achieve meaningful goals, use exercise as medicine, and to become stronger, fitter and more functional.