Community Update (1/1/24)

Wellness

VHC Health’s fitness classes aim to keep older adults strong, healthy and balanced. Equally important is the regular, social connection created by the welcoming community. Lower-impact fitness classes include:

• Boost Your Balance
• Feldenkrais for Self Care
• Functional Fitness
• Gentle or Seated Yoga
• Gentle Pilates
• Low Impact Cardio Dance
• Mindful Movement
• Seated Senior Fitness
• Seniorcise
• Senior Strength & Stretch
• Tai Chi (*10-week sessions begin week of 1/15)

Register online or call 703.558.6740.

 

VHC Health also continues to offer a variety of virtual fitness classes for those who prefer to exercise at home. Strengthen your muscles (Core Challenge, Cardio Strength, Body Sculpt) or relax and rejuvenate (Yin Yoga, Gentle, Seated or Hatha Yoga). Most classes run in 7-week sessions and begin the week of January 8. In looking at the list of classes, if you see a “V”, it’s virtual!

Free Covid Tests

As of November 20, 2023, residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

• Each order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests (gov has more details about COVID tests), including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates)
• If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, 2023, you can place 2 orders now
• Orders will ship free

To order, go to https://special.usps.com/testkits

COVID Annual Vaccination

Getting vaccinated or boosted is an important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. But if it’s been a while since you got the shot, your protection may need a boost. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available now and protect against the Omicron variant. Other vaccines, including this year’s flu vaccine, are also available. Staying up to date with your COVID vaccine can reduce the risk that you’ll:

• Get seriously ill, need hospital care, or die from COVID-19
• Develop long COVID-19
• Spread the disease to others, putting their health and lives at risk.

Learn more about COVID-19 and the updated vaccines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Singing for Health!

Have you heard of Encore Creativity for Older Adults? We have recently learned about this program, and am enthralled by it! About 15 years ago, a pilot study, inspired by Renee Fleming among others, was conceived by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This research investigated the relationship between group chorale singing and health in older adults. The results were a stunning strong relationship, both with mental and physical health. Thus, Encore was formed and funded in cities across the country.

There are several Encore groups near us, here in Arlington, and Alexandria, Reston, Ashburn, and Goodwin Houses. Each group is led by a highly qualified conductor, and does not require auditions or the ability to read music. The chorale rehearses weekly in person for 15 weeks (with practice materials and music for practice online as well) for a final concert. This past semester four groups of the chorale rehearsed nine pieces, and sang them in concert at Goodwin House and at Kenmore Middle School. As a bonus, seven groups (who had all learned the same songs) sang at the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center! Tickets for all concerts are free, available to the public online.

The spring semester begins January 8, 2024; you can go online and look up Encorecreativity.org ; you can also find it in the Arlington County 55+ catalogue, page 23. You will need to register with Arlington County (through the 55+ program) as well as with Encore. Rehearsals are at the Lubber Run Community Center, from 1:00-2:30 on Tuesdays. Come for the first one and observe/try it, and see if it is for you. If you enjoy it, you might find you return, fall and spring, for ongoing pleasure and benefit. Many enduring friendships have originated at Encore.

Most of us are experiencing changes in our singing ability as we age; voices grow weak and thready, breath is challenged. Singing helps to improve those features, as well as challenge us to learn new things. Socializing with others our age and with the same aging voices is so much fun! Some members have been singing with Encore for 15 years, whereas others are new arrivals, warmly welcomed. You do not need to participate in the end concerts if you choose not to, but the rehearsals themselves give so much. We sit for rehearsals, and sitting is an option for concerts as well if you prefer.

If you seek an alternative, there are also Rocks, the Encore groups that sing rock and roll, as well as the Sentimental Journey Singers for those cognitively impaired and their caregivers.

We know there are several members and volunteers who are currently singing, and we hope there will be many more!