Move Well, Live Well

Classes that keep you strong, steady and engaged

Finding Your Fitness “Fit”

Not sure which fitness class is right for you? Here’s a list of fitness class styles and the benefits they provide. If you have questions about what type of exercise class might be best for you, talk to your primary care provider.

Class Types & Benefits

Chair Exercises

• Performed seated to reduce stress on joints
• Improves strength, endurance & muscle tone

Dancing

• Boosts heart health
• Enhances balance, flexibility, coordination & bone health

Feldenkrais Method

• Focuses on gentle movement and mobility
• Improves posture, balance, flexibility & bone strength

Muscle Strengthening

• Uses weights, resistance bands & exercise equipment
• Improves muscle mass, metabolism, bone strength & joint stability

Pilates

• Primarily done on a mat
• Strengthens core, improves posture, balance & mobility

Tai Chi

• Slow, gentle movements
• Enhances balance, strength & relaxation

Qi Gong

• Combines movement, breathing & meditation
• Improves flexibility, mobility & balance

Yoga

• Can be done seated or on a mat
• Improves flexibility, strength, balance, range of motion & relaxation

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Exercise is important at every age. For older adults, staying fit has a host of benefits, such as reducing the risk of falls and other injuries, controlling chronic health conditions, maintaining mobility, enhancing brain health, preventing depression and anxiety, and preserving independence. To help South Bay residents achieve their fitness goals, Torrance Memorial offers a range of classes—from line dancing and stretching to strength training and Tai Chi.

“As we age, we lose muscle mass. If muscle loss becomes severe, it can cause problems with performing everyday activities and lead to loss of independence,” says Lorena Layrisse Landaeta, MD, a primary care provider at Torrance Memorial Physician Network who is double board-certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine. “Torrance Memorial’s fitness classes offer something for everyone, including beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as in-person and Zoom options.”

Getting regular exercise is a crucial component of controlling chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as improving balance and strength, which can reduce the risk of falls and injuries. And the benefits of exercise extend beyond improving physical health, says Dr. Landaeta.

“We know exercise helps with weight and chronic condition management and has been linked to a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke,” she says. “But attending fitness classes also has social and emotional benefits, which can be important for older adults who have experienced the death of a spouse, loved ones or friends, or who live far from their adult children and grandkids.”

By providing an opportunity to interact with others in a welcoming, friendly environment, fitness classes can boost mood, improve confidence, reduce stress, and lower the risk of anxiety and depression. Tech-savvy adults who are unable to leave the house for in-person fitness classes can reap the same benefits from Torrance Memorial’s Zoom-only fitness classes—all from the comfort of home.

“Zoom classes are an excellent option for older adults who are immunocompromised due to chemotherapy or treatment for a chronic autoimmune disorder,” points out Dr. Landaeta. “Seniors who no longer drive, care for a spouse or feel uncomfortable exercising in group settings can also benefit from Zoom classes.”

During the past decade, numerous studies have linked physical activity and socialization to improved brain health and decreased dementia risk.

“There are not many things that can reduce your risk of developing dementia, but fitness classes can be especially beneficial because they combine social interaction and exercise,” Dr. Landaeta says.

Torrance Memorial’s exercise classes can help participants get motivated to achieve their long-term fitness goals. Although experts recommend 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, Dr. Landaeta says older adults can start with 15 minutes of daily exercise and increase from there.

“My patients who attend fitness classes tell me they have more energy and feel better,” she says. “You have to start somewhere, and Torrance Memorial’s classes are a great place to start.” 

Lorena Layrisse Landaeta, MD, is a primary care provider at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Palos Verdes, 602 Deep Valley Dr., Ste. 300 in Rolling Hills Estates. She can be reached at 310-517-4692