Getting fit & connecting through community

At Independence, we are committed to helping our members achieve their health and wellness goals. And your One Pass fitness benefit can help with that! When discussing what it means to be “fit,” it’s easy to focus only on exercising and fostering healthy eating habits. What most people don’t know is that improving your social and mental fitness is just as important as your physical journey.

We saw this firsthand at a recent event Independence hosted with One Pass at the Haverford Area YMCA. The event highlighted the importance of all three aspects of fitness: staying physically fit, fostering social connections, and exercising your brain. Members had the opportunity to see how they can use their One Pass benefit to create a fitness experience that’s all their own — one that meets their individual goals and connects them to others in their communities. Members have access to all local YMCAs and many other local gyms through the One Pass fitness network.

Let’s take a closer look at the event to see how it promoted creating a comprehensive fitness journey to members in attendance — and how you can do the same.

Physical fitness

Improving and maintaining your physical fitness is central to good health. Members at the event could participate in senior-focused group exercise classes: a tai chi session, a chair yoga routine, and a live pickleball demonstration and activity session where members could try the sport.

There are so many ways to achieve physical fitness. Whether you enjoy a solo workout at the gym, online or in-person exercise classes, or a walk through the park, you can get stronger and healthier each day.

Social fitness

Members at the event worked on their social fitness without even knowing it. They engaged with each other and created a shared experience. This type of fitness focuses on making changes to your social habits, like how and when you interact with others. Pushing yourself to explore new ways of staying connected can help you combat feelings of stress and loneliness. Plus, it can help you feel better overall.

Now that in-person events have returned, fostering your social fitness is becoming easier. And after the last few years where many felt socially distant and isolated, it’s more important than ever to reach out. Stephanie Alloway, director of group exercise and wellness at the Haverford Area YMCA, said, “Socialization is just as important as the exercise. It makes you feel you belong and gives you access to a community of great people.”

Mental fitness

Members explored different aspects of mental fitness during the One Pass event. They learned about and practiced mindfulness during tai chi and chair yoga sessions. These sessions also helped them reduce feelings of stress.

They also had the opportunity to learn about BrainHQ. This online brain-training program, which is another benefit available through One Pass, helps strengthen cognitive function, including brain speed, attention span, and memory.

Finding your fit

Getting started is simple. To locate a participating gym near you, visit ibxmedicare.com/findagym. Here are some of the benefits that come with your no-cost. One Pass membership, including at-home options:

• Access to a national fitness network, including all local YMCAs, boutique studios, yoga, Pilates, spinning studios, and more
• A home fitness kit with tools like weights — ideal if you prefer to work out at home
• Virtual or in-person community fitness activities
• Access to BrainHQ, an online program that boosts thinking and memory skills
• Thousands of on-demand and livestreaming digital fitness classes

To get started, visit youronepass.com or call One Pass at 1-877-504-6830 (TTY/TDD: 711).

We saw members learn how they can use their One Pass benefit to create a fitness experience that’s all their own — one that meets their individual goals and connects them with others in their communities. And we were fortunate enough to meet a great group of people at the Haverford Area Y, each with a different reason for attending. We noted one common thread between them: They were all there to work toward a healthier and happier life.

Getting a good stretch

Rosemary Browne, 70, loves horseback riding, running, and visiting her six grandchildren (not necessarily in that order). She’s a retired hospital administrator who’s loving her second career as a substitute teacher.

“I’m here for the chair yoga,” she says of her time at the YMCA. “My horseback riding instructor tells me that stretching is really good for that. The class gives you enough variety, some standing poses, and some general stretching.” It’s great for posture, Rosemary says, which contributes to good balance and keeps her strong for those long rides through the countryside.

Starting a new routine

An accounting firm retiree, Ila Smith, 78, is a couple of years out from knee-replacement surgery. She’s on a mission to reach her 100th birthday.

“I have to stay physically fit,” she says. “My mother made it to 98 and my grandfather lived to be 99.” Somebody in the family’s got to reach the century mark, she says. And Ila is determined to be the one. The One Pass benefit might just be her ticket to that big birthday party. On her agenda: the indoor track, cycling, and maybe a few exercise classes.

Trying something new

A retired professor of Spanish literature at Villanova University, Maria Vallieres is a mother of two — and abuela of six. Maria describes herself as “pretty sedentary,” but we disagree! In fact, on the day we met her at the Y, Maria took three classes — senior fitness, tai chi, and chair yoga. “I’ve been a widow for a few years, and now I wanted to do something for me,” she explains. “I wanted to jump into something new.” And the sense of community added to her experience as well. “This is a great place,” she says.

Building stamina

Looking for a way to improve her breathing, Renee Plummer, 76, has turned to fitness. Renee worked as an operations manager at Burlington Coat Factory for 10 years before she retired in 2019. “I worked in both ends of the store — receiving in the back and on the sales floor in the front,” she says. “All of a sudden I was having back pain and couldn’t do it anymore.”

Now she’s eager to become more active. She loves the basic fitness classes, and she’s ready for more. She hopes her gym time will help her reach a big personal goal: “I used to be a singer in my church choir, but it was tough going to practice after working a nine-hour day. I’m thinking about getting back into singing again. I’m a doo-wopper!”

The wonderful thing about creating a fitness journey is that it’s unique to you. Something that may work for others may not be a good fit for you — and that’s all right! Your One Pass fitness benefit gives you the flexibility to fully explore fitness, including the physical, social, and mental aspects. And if you’re enjoying your journey, that’s a win.

The One Pass fitness benefit is a program provided by Rally Health, Inc., an independent company. ©2023 Rally Health, Inc. Rally, the Rally logo(s) and One Pass are trademarks of Rally Health, Inc. and/or its affiliates.