It was a late Tuesday morning and Toni Underwood had already started her weekly exercise at Fairwinds Senior Living, a Leisure Care community in Redmond.
Underwood and her PrimeFit coach, Kelly Fennelly were working on strengthening her legs, back and chest. At 98-years-old, Underwood was doing pull-ups, pushups and squatting. She meets with her coach three times a week.
“You can enjoy living so much more if you’re active and healthy,” Underwood said as she used the dumbbells.
The Redmond resident has been living at the retirement community for nearly three years now. Underwood enjoys a game of bridge, a glass of wine and fitness.
Despite her age and vision loss, Underwood has made an effort to maintain an active lifestyle by being plugged into her Fairwinds community and working out with her PrimeFit coach. Underwood also enjoys traveling, and recently returned from a safari trip in Africa — nothing can stop her from traveling.
“It impacts me by making me enjoy my life through exercise and in a social context with the people here,” Underwood said about retiring with Leisure Care. “I’m really happy and I enjoy what I’m doing with Kelly. I enjoy my interaction with other guests here.”
As part of Leisure Care, the staff tries to keep residents active and engaged in life through PrimeFit. The fitness program encourages seniors to stay active in the gym, through aquatic exercise, recreational sports, walking programs and more. Seniors in the FabFit program can exercise in group training or personal training.
With more than 160 residents living at the retirement community, PrimeFit coach Fennelly tries to recruit as many residents as possible.
“The physical benefits – there’s a lot,” Fennelly said about senior fitness. “But [it’s] also the community. Just having the social aspect of it is really important too. There’s a big amount of depression in this age group. I see [exercising] as a social thing, being able to hang out with our neighbors in the community, and get healthy.”
Fairwinds is located at 9988 Avondale Rd NE in Redmond.
To learn more about Fairwinds, go online to, www.leisurecare.com.
Toni Underwood works out with her PrimeFit coach Kelly Fennelly three times a week. They work on strengthening legs, back, and chest. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo.
Despite her age and vision loss, Toni Underwood maintains an active and social life. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo.
Toni Underwood works out with her PrimeFit coach Kelly Fennelly three times a week. They work on strengthening legs, back, and chest. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo.
