Rochester Rec looks to fill senior wellness void left by Strafford Y closure

One of Rochester Rec & Arena's chair yoga classes in a recent session (YouTube)

ROCHESTER - In the wake of the Strafford Y's recent closure, Rochester's Rec and Arena is looking to fill the void left behind for budget-minded seniors seeking fitness programs that can keep them in the pink.
"We've already added three new classes and will do more in the future if there's interest," Rochester Rec & Arena Director Lauren Krans told The Rochester Voice on Tuesday. "There a specific demand out there for low-cost fitness classes for the older demographic."
Krans said that with the departure of the Y, Rochester Rec & Arena is one of the larger rec organizations in the area with almost 550 seniors taking advantage of their fitness programs.
This fall they'll be offering a total of 11 different fitness and/or movement classes, with nine of them dedicated to the 50-and-over community.
"Seniors know that exercise and fitness helps them be more independent," Krans noted. "We hear from so many that it is a 'quality of life' issue."
Some of the classes Rochester Rec and Arena offers include Zumba Gold, Cardio Drumming, which is when participants sit in a chair holding a big yoga ball and beat on it with drumsticks; and Pep in our Step, a beginning fitness class for people looking for light exercises to stay functional and mobile.
Krans said they hope to access space in the James W. Foley Community Center where they can have more fitness classes in the spring.
The Granite Y announced its decision to merge the Strafford Y's child day care and family wellness programs with the Somersworth Learning Center earlier this year. Part of that consolidation included the closure of its Industrial Way facility, which had served Rochester and the surrounding area for 14 years..
To Learn More about Rochester Rec and Arena's programs click here or call the Rec Office at 603.332.4120.