The winter blahs are taking a toll — all those high-calorie Christmas goodies have slowed you down. Your get-up-and-go got up and left. Now is the time to begin exercising.

The BASE Senior Fitness Exercise Program welcomes seniors to join in the fun of group exercise.

According to Becky Koppen, RSVP Volunteer Coordinator, Hamilton County, BASE Senior Fitness classes are fun. She said there is chatting and sharing and laughing all go on during the fitness classes, which only helps the exercise time to pass quickly.

“The people that exercise together become a close-knit group, and enjoy seeing one another each time they come to class,” Koppen said.

BASE, which stands for Balance, Agility, Strength and Endurance, classes are free for those age 55 and older, and classes meet at a variety of locations and times. Participants exercise for about an hour, twice a week, under the guidance of a trained RSVP volunteer. Hand weights and stretch bands are employed in the classes. The exercises are low impact, and begin at a low level of repetitions and gradually increase as your strength and endurance increase.

Participants in the BASE Senior Fitness classes have reported many benefits from the consistent exercise. The list of how exercise improves your health is lengthy and impressive–from increasing bone density to reducing high blood pressure and improving circulation. The benefits are psychological as well–exercise improves mood, decreases anxiety and combats loneliness and depression, Koppen said.

To sign up for a BASE Senior Fitness class, contact Central Iowa RSVP at 832-2525.