JANUARY 2025: Through the Eyes of an Elder

     These influences have guided me over the years. I worked in forestry, volunteered widely, focused on family and friends, and raised our children in Portland, emphasizing academics, sports, arts, and community.

     After our kids left for college, my husband and I moved to Hood River. I set out to actively join my new community, and met Lauren Kraemer at OSU Extension. She was seeking volunteers to lead StrongPeople classes as part of Extension’s Family and Community Health Program, and I readily agreed to be trained. In 2015, I started leading Hood River County’s first StrongPeople classes at the Mt. Hood Town Hall.

What is “StrongPeople”?

     StrongPeople is a research-based fitness program, developed in the early 2000s for midlife and older women. It is now nationally recognized and accessible to ALL people, regardless of age or gender. Exercising with hand and ankle weights, participants build muscle and bone, improve flexibility, and gain better balance in group settings. Social connections are as important as strength work in this well-rounded program. Today, affordable StrongPeople classes are offered in nine Gorge communities and online. At the Town Hall, classes meet three times a week and are led by four leaders.

What are the benefits?

     Personally, the program has helped me become stronger and stay relatively fit while building friendships. It helps me manage various physical and emotional health issues. The group energizes me, and I gain satisfaction from helping others exercise. Also, I’ve learned some online skills (building music play lists and leading classes via Zoom), further supporting brain health.

Many StrongPeople participants I work with have

experienced similar benefits:

      “I first attended in order to be able to place my 20-pound carry-on bag into the overhead bin without assistance. That first goal was met eight years ago. I didn’t quit. I was feeling good with more energy, and I enjoyed meeting a diverse age group of Valley residents.” — SO

     “I am stronger and am maintaining my fitness. One proof is my quick recovery from three surgeries in the last two years. I’m sure I wouldn’t have bounced back as well if I hadn’t been going to class regularly.” — MW

     “The exercises have strengthened my legs and improved my balance, so I feel safer. [My] last bone density test…showed improvement….[I’m] able to get out of my chair without using the armrests to push myself up….[I] have fibromyalgia and it has helped the pain. Exercising is fun with a great group.” — JE

     “I knew that strength training would be helpful in reducing inflammation from my chronic health challenges but what I have gained from the socialization, the laughs and the friendships formed during the class are equally beneficial to my health.” — MW

     “[Our group] members … are inspirational. They may have an eye surgery, a hip replacement or treatment for cancer, but you can’t keep them down for long. They keep coming back to class to keep themselves as fit as possible and inspire all [the rest of us].” — LS

     “After just two months … I’ve improved body strength and balance and begun to make friends with an eclectic, ageless, welcoming group.…Definitely a ‘win-win’.” — PG

     Borrowing from my elders’ words, exercise is the best medicine, use your head, just keep moving, falling is not an option, and enjoy life with those you love! You’ll find all this and more in a local StrongPeople class. Further information is available at extension.oregonstate.edu/strongpeople.

About the Author:

     Ann Dow, 74, has lived in the Gorge with husband, Sam Doak, since 2012. She volunteers as a leader for StrongPeople classes and walks their dogs daily.

“Through the Eyes of an Elder”

     “Through the Eyes of an Elder” is contributed monthly by the Aging in the Gorge Alliance. Its purpose is

to enhance understanding and appreciation for

Mid-Columbia’s older adults, their loved ones, and

caregivers. Email suggestions for future columns to

EyesofanElder@gmail.com.