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Home » Fitness » Owatonna residents take part in National Senior Health & Fitness Day – Southernminn.com

OWATONNA Three men played table tennis in the multipurpose room at SeniorPlace in Owatonna Wednesday afternoon, while rooms on the second floor of the building were occupied with the weeks usual pinochle and bridge card game participants.

These activities and others were offered to the public at SeniorPlace, West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center and Morehouse Park by Owatonna Parks and Recreation in partnership with Straight River Sports and Fitness and Semcac Senior Dining as part of the 24th annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day.

Its an opportunity to attract more seniors to SeniorPlace and encourage them to get out and get active, said Josh Thompson, Owatonna Parks and Rec summer intern.

National Senior Health & Fitness Day is a nationwide health and fitness event for older adults held the last Wednesday in May during Older Americans Month. This years event was expected to draw more than 100,000 older adults to participate in local events at more than 1,000 locations across the country on the same day. The events goals are to promote the importance of regular physical activity and to showcase what local organizations are doing to improve the health and fitness of older adults in their communities.

In observance of the day, the usual membership requirements at SeniorPlace and West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center were waived to encourage members of the public who are 55 and older to participate in programs and services offered locally, like Tai Chi, darts, billiards, table tennis, cards and shuffleboard as well as fitness and water aerobics sessions.

The city offers a wide variety of activities for seniors, so we want to show them how to be active and how they can improve their quality of life, Thompson said.

Many of those spotted at SeniorPlace Wednesday, however, were members who visit on a regular basis.

On the second floor, Larry Ruehling, Gary Staats, Mary Swank and Pat Willhite were seated at one of four tables occupied by bridge players.

No one new showed up today, Staats said. Almost everyone here comes every week.

And they have done so for years, he said, pointing at tables with individuals in their 90s.

For Ruehling, Staats and Willhite, theyve played bridge for years, while Swank learned a few years ago under the guidance of Ruehling.

She was a student of mine and she won last week, Ruehling said with a smile. Im proud of her.

Ruehling and Swank, who were partners, didnt win their round against Staats and Willhite. After each round, a pair rotated to another table.

Staats said anyone is welcome to play Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at SeniorPlace, where there is camaraderie.

That mentality was shared by Willie Peterson and Darryl Hill, who were willing to teach shuffleboard and table tennis, respectively, to anyone interested in learning.

Peterson, who will be headed to the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Alabama, next week for shuffleboard doubles and singles, was on hand Wednesday afternoon to provide lessons or play with anyone who showed up.

Itll be a practice day for me, he said. I have no idea who will show up.

Peterson said about four or five people usually do, but participation slows down in the summer and returns in the fall.

He has been playing shuffleboard on and off for years and said its a fun and strategic game. In mid-May, Peterson completed at the Minnesota Senior Games in Mankato and received gold in shuffleboard doubles and bronze in singles

Hill said about eight to 10 people show up for table tennis on a regular basis but said hed work one-on-one with anyone who would like to try it.

Anyone can come, he said. It doesnt matter their ability.

Reach reporter Ashley Stewart at 444-2378 or follow her on Twitter.com @OPPashley

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Owatonna residents take part in National Senior Health & Fitness Day - Southernminn.com

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Home » Fitness » Owatonna residents take part in National Senior Health & Fitness Day – Southernminn.com