Published: July 06, 2008 10:33 pm         

PEGASYS starts senior exercise program

A new exercise program for seniors will be found on PEGASYS channel 11 starting today.

PEGASYS is offering an exercise program through the senior life network, which they plan to broadcast throughout the week, with new programs every week. The exercise program is made possible through a grant from Enid Community Foundation.

PEGASYS Executive Director Wendy Quarles said she and staff members were considering what to do next, finding another way to serve the community.

“Where could we focus, who do we want to give back to? The seniors in this community have given to the community longer than anybody. We were thinking of groups like RSVP and the senior center and wondered how we could do something that would benefit them,” Quarles said.

There will be three programs seniors may choose from. Low-impact aerobics shown Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m.; strength and flexibility shown Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. and bench-step aerobics Friday at 1 p.m.

Stephanie Wnetrzak, community relations coordinator for PEGASYS, said in the past the station has concentrated on doing things for kids in the community and feel they have overlooked an important group of PEGASYS viewers — seniors.

“This will be an opportunity for PEGASYS, Senior Life Network, and the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation to team up and provide seniors something that will improve their quality of life,” she said.

Seniors are encouraged to watch and exercise from their homes for the phrase of the month. They can e-mail that phrase, with their name, address and telephone number to PEGASYS at 123 W. Maine or e-mail wquarles@pegasys.org. At the end of the month all entries will be drawn and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Oakwood Mall courtesy of Northwest Osteopathic Foundation. All five programs will have the same phrase each week. The first drawing will be July 31.

Quarles contacted Steve Whitfill of Senior Life Network and Kay Gray and discussed giving seniors health and wellness through an exercise program. Senior Life Network has an exercise program led by certified instructor Deb Sexton.

“The seniors that are at home and can’t get out can start the exercise program by watching it on television that is especially geared for them,” she said.

Some of the exercises can be done from a chair, some are floor exercises and on Friday the exercises use a four-inch step or can be done from the floor, she said.

The television program gives seniors the opportunity to either go to the center, or watch the program on television five days a week. She called it win-win because they can go to the center or see the program on television. The series will be a year-long installment and Quarles said PEGASYS will continue to do the program as long as it can.

“The whole idea is to give something for seniors and help the quality of their life,” Quarles said.

Quarles also wants comments and suggestions from seniors about things they can use.

“All they have to do is exercise each week and write down the phrase. Not only will they improve their health, strength and flexibility, but they have the chance to win a prize that they can use to reward themselves for all the hard work they have done. Everybody wins,” Wnetrzak said.