In late August, a group from Senior Planet’s Morning Stretch classes met in Maryland to share a meal with trainer Cas Castro and to practice some of the Ba Duan Jin (learn more about it here) breathing exercises that are especially popular in the class.

Though most participants see each other daily in Senior Planet’s fitness and technology classes, the chance to meet IRL (in real life) appealed to many — with some even traveling from as far away as Oregon and New York to join!  

Join morning stretch every weekday at 10AM ET.  Check our schedule here and join the fun! 

“My favorite part of spending time with everyone was the gratitude they shared for the class and community,” says Cas. “Health and wellbeing have always been important to me and so it brings me so much joy to hear that this class has changed someone’s life.” 

About Morning Stretch 

Morning Stretch has been meeting daily since the early days of the pandemic. When physical spaces shut down, many older adults were suddenly left without the health and wellness classes they attended and, perhaps more severely, without the social connections bolstered by those in-person activities.  

Seeing an immediate need, Senior Planet started offering online fitness programs designed for those 60 and older. While everyone was learning and adjusting to Zoom, trainer Cas Castro led a growing community through a variety of breathing and stretching exercises. It didn’t take long before people were clamoring to stay longer. 

“If you join morning stretch, you’ll often hear people celebrating each other’s birthdays, sharing life updates, and providing support for one another.”

-Cas Castro

“In my first class, I wasn’t totally sure how things would go. We finished the 30 minutes of exercises and then I shut the Zoom down right away, I barely gave people a chance to say goodbye,” says Cas. “But it quickly became clear that the social connection was just as important as the physical exercises. I started leaving the room open for 10 extra minutes of chit chat, then 15.”

“Now, the program is an hour long – 30 minutes of exercises and 30 minutes of socializing. If you join morning stretch, you’ll often hear people celebrating each other’s birthdays, sharing life updates, and providing support for one another.” 

Want to make new friends and get started on your own fitness journey? Join Senior Planet for daily health and wellness programs (including morning stretch!): https://seniorplanet.org/virtual-fitness-wellness-events/ 

YOUR TURN

Are you a fan of Morning Stretch? How has it helped you? Share your experiences in the comments!

Deirdre Lee serves as Director of Virtual Program Experiences for Senior Planet from AARP (formerly managing the organization’s licensing program). Based in Denver, she oversees Senior Planet’s online programs as well as the free hotline for tech or Senior Planet questions (available at 888-713-3495).