Research shows there are certain factors responsible for people living longer.
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Led by journalist and author Dan Buettner, a team of doctors, anthropologists, demographers, nutritionists and epidemiologists identified nine general longevity factors.
The Well Seasoned program, run by Westbury Health and Meander Valley Council, rolls two of these longevity factors together, combining regular physical activity with social group engagement.
Westbury Health chairman Dinah FitzGerald said group activities, like those organised for Well Seasoned, improved physical health, mental health and general happiness.
“The main purpose is to promote community engagement and get people to join groups,” Dr FitzGerald said.
“If you join a group, research shows you live longer. If you join more than one, you’ll live longer again,” she said.
Well Seasoned started during winter, with the eight-week Dare to Dance program, with participants keen to join a similar group next year.
“At the end of the eight weeks of Dare to Dance everyone said they’d like to continue. They learned dances like the twist and jive,” Dr FitzGerald said.
Well Seasoned starts again in late spring and continues into summer when participants swap dance shoes for bathing suits for eight weeks of the Water Wallowing program.
Water Wallowing sessions will be held at Deloraine Primary School’s pool and are ideal for people with joint problems.
“It's more hydrotherapy, with gentle exercising in water,” Dr FitzGerald said.
“Tired muscles and creaky joints work better in the weightless environment of water.”
The Well Seasoned program starts again in January, with eight weeks of Ying Yoga and then a further eight weeks of preserving fruit and vegetables during the Harvest Keepers program in autumn.
“It’s for older people in Meander Valley. It's quite a diverse program to get people involved,” Dr FitzGerald said.
Dare to Dance had 39 participants and between 10 and 15 are expected to take part in Water Wallowing.
Ying Yoga has spaces for up to 20 participants and the Harvest Keepers sessions are expected to run at Deloraine and Westbury, with up to eight people at each location.
- Water Wallowing runs on Fridays at 2pm between October 26 and December 14 at Deloraine Primary School pool. It costs $5 per session. Contact Dinah FitzGerald on 0417 292 622 for more information.
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