Senior Planet News Extra – From Zoom to IRL!

A recent Saturday meetup with Senior Planet Morning Stretch instructor Cas Castro in New York City felt less like an event and more like a reunion that had been years in the making. 

Starting at 10 a.m., people began gathering upstairs at a Whole Foods on Madison Avenue, pulling tables together and saving seats as more attendees poured in from across the country. Some traveled from neighboring states and others came from much farther away, including Colorado, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. One participant even drove up from Georgia, and it was his 78th birthday. When he walked in, the entire group broke into applause. Later, they surprised him with cake and sang “Happy Birthday”!

“This community changed my life,” one participant shared during the meetup. Another spoke about how the routines in Morning Stretch classes helped improve her mobility enough to avoid surgery. A different participant attributed improvements to her vision improvement to Cas after practicing eye exercises introduced by him during class. 

More than a Class

What stood out most wasn’t just the travel or the stories. It was the way people showed up for one another. There were no barriers or limits to their efforts. Many embraced friends they had only ever seen through Zoom screens before finally meeting in person. A 92-year-old participant arrived from Staten Island with her walker and beloved dog in tow. The room erupted in cheers as she made her way across the floor.  

“We get to take our online relationships into real life,” one attendee said. 

Throughout the afternoon, Cas (pictured with Rhonda, at left, demonstrating the classic horse stance, known as Mah bu) moved from table to table greeting participants, taking photos, sharing laughs, and even leading a few impromptu kung fu moves. At one point, the meetup reached nearly 40 people, with conversations lasting for hours. 

The appreciation grew even more when OATS Executive Director Tom Kamber arrived to join the gathering. Participants surrounded him for photos and conversations, excited to meet the person who created the community they’ve come to love so deeply. 

This meetup was proof that Senior Planet is not just an online Zoom session. It’s building connection, encouragement, friendship, and community that extends far beyond the screen – real in every way. 

 Want to learn more about Cas, and about joining Morning Stretch?  Visit here! 

YOUR TURN

Are you a fan of Morning Stretch, or another Senior Planet class? Share your thoughts 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).