Last week, Nicole and I spent two days at the McKee Seniors Recreation Centre for their open house week. To be honest, the most I knew was they did a cute trick or treating event for the kids during Fright Nights at Hallowe’en. Past that, I knew very little about what went on inside those walls.
On Monday we set up our little table in the hall and talked to everyone who came by, answering any physiotherapy related questions people had for us. We were sitting opposite a bulletin board advertising the latest offerings in McKee House - a photography class, Osteofit, all different kinds of yoga, a men’s only strength class… Quite frankly we were blown away by the variety of options they had.
After getting a facility tour from Ben, the president of the McKee House Seniors Society, here’s a bit of what we learned:
Membership to the McKee House is $30 for the year (that’s such a deal!!) and you need to be 50 years of age to join
There are a crazy number of classes they offer - some for an extra fee, some included in your membership. Some of my favourites include:
Core, Balance and Strength (specifically targeted at decreasing the risk of falls through balance exercises and floor work)
Workout Warriors for Men (a strengthening class specifically for men with a mix of weights, cardio and flexibility)
Gentle Yoga (aimed at those with arthritis and limited mobility with an instructor that can modify poses as needed)
Muscle Max (an energetic class for making you sweat, using different equipment including weights and bands)
Osteofit (a class originally developed by the BC Women’s Hospital aimed at fall prevention for both men and women, especially for those with osteoporosis)
Introduction to Argentine Tango (because why not?)
They have drop-in everything you can think of - knitting, cribbage, conversational Spanish, snooker, poker, trivia….
The space is lovely with large windows, comfy chairs, a great cafe and a large auditorium for movie nights and concerts
You can find all their current programs listed in their current program guide.
The McKee House is a wonderful part of the Ladner community. We all know how important it is to stay social and active as we age. The exercise classes offer a means to strengthen, improve mobility and improve energy levels, all huge factors in reducing the risk of falls. Both brain and body health stand to get a boost through the offerings at the McKee House.
Have you been thinking about checking them out but nervous about going? I’m not sure you could meet a friendlier bunch of people with just enough sarcasm thrown in for a good laugh (you can see why it left such an impression on me)! Do yourself a favour and head on over - you’ll be happy you did.
If you’re wondering which class is for you and you would like some guidance, give us a call at (778) 630-8800 to make an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.