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Healthy Bodies

Moving our bodies and being physically active is essential for maintaining our health and well-being. For older adults, being active improves balance, core strength and stability – three game changers when it comes to maintaining mobility and independence and preventing falls. ConnectWell offers several physical activity programs for older adults to help you maintain or improve your level of fitness and build a healthy social network at the same time.

Being physically activity can help you age well, stay strong, maintain your mental fitness and remain independent.

Engaging in activities such as strength training or brisk walking are excellent ways to improve your balance, core strength and stability needed to prevent falls.

When you’re exercising your body, you’re also exercising your mind. Regular physical activity releases endorphins in the brain and can make us feel happier. Group programs let us connect with friends and meet new people and help us build a sense of belonging. These feelings of happiness and social connection help keep our brains healthy and protect against the onset of dementia.

ConnectWell’s group programs are led by trained and skilled staff and volunteers. They ensure that the group environment is welcoming, safe and supportive for all. Check out the groups we have on offer.

Our Programs

ConnectWell offers community-based, group exercise classes for older adults including those with low, moderate and high fitness levels. Classes are designed for older adult bodies and are taught by trained volunteers who follow the guidelines in the Seniors Fitness Instructor Course (SFIC) of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA). Each class includes a warm-up, an aerobic portion, cool down, strengthening exercises, balance and flexibility (stretching) sections.

If you are at risk of falls or have experienced a fall, are recovering from an injury or illness, or have been sedentary for weeks or months, our lower mobility or gentle/balance classes will help you stay on your feet. (See some helpful Falls Prevention Resources below).

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 1-hour classes
  • Most classes offered from September to May. Several classes are offered weekly for varying ability levels
  • Many locations in Lanark & Renfrew Counties
  • Open to all community members
  • Attendance may be limited as physical space permits
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program:

Lanark County, call Pam (613-259-2182) or email: pfergusson@connectwell.ca

Renfrew County, call Lara (613-582-3685) or email: lmylly@connectwell.ca

Helpful Resources

This small group program is for anyone living with a chronic health condition or their family members and caregivers. This includes conditions ie diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, lung disease, and other chronic health issues. Chronic conditions are often slow to develop, may have an uncertain cause, are sometimes difficult to diagnose, may not have a conclusive test to determine diagnosis with accuracy and usually last for life. Although the biological causes of chronic illnesses differ, the problems and challenges they pose for people can be remarkably similar.

During this program you will learn and practice a range of self-management skills such as:

  • Problem solving and responding as your disease gets better or worse
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy eating, sound sleep habits and stress management
  • Managing common symptoms
  • Making decisions about when to seek medical help and what treatments to try
  • Working effectively with your health care team
  • Using medications safely and effectively while minimizing side effects
  • Finding and using community resources
  • Talking about your condition with family and friends and adapting social activities

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 12 participants all with direct experience in living with one or more chronic conditions
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

This small group program is for anyone suffering from persistent pain, including but not limited to lower back pain, pain from motor vehicle accidents, arthritis, fibromyalgia and more. The program is interactive and includes a structured gentle movement component called “Moving Easy”. During the program you will learn and practice a range of self-management skills such as:

  • problem solving and responding to your chronic pain condition day to day
  • maintaining a healthy lifestyle that features stress management, regular exercise, healthy eating and sound sleep habits
  • managing common symptoms
  • making decisions about when to seek professional help and what treatments to try
  • working effectively with your health care team
  • using medications safely and effectively while minimizing side effects
  • finding and using community resources
  • talking about your condition with family and friends and
  • participating in work, volunteer and social activities.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 12 participants all with direct experience in living with chronic pain
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

The Mindful Movement program introduces participants to the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong (“chee” “gong”) focusing on mindful movements to enhance energy flow in body, mind, and spirit. Tailored for seniors and older adults, this program integrates synchronized breathing with gentle, slow movements. Participants can expect a variety of benefits including stress reduction, enhanced concentration, and overall well-being.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • Weekly 1-hour classes held over an 8-to-12-week period (spring and fall programs)
  • Locations in north Lanark vary from time-to-time
  • Open to all community members
  • Attendance may be limited as physical space permits
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Pam (613-259-2182) or email: pfergusson@connectwell.ca

Pole Walking is for community members wanting to increase the physical benefits from their walking program or to add a physical/mobility support while walking. Adding poles to a walking session increases stability, uses upper and lower muscles, improves posture and increases intensity of your walking workout. Our Pole Walking programs are led by trained volunteers who are Certified Urban Poling Instructors. Our leaders can offer tips on how to fit poles and on proper poling technique. We have poles available to lend out to group members. Pole Walking groups are offered twice a year in Renfrew and Lanark Counties.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • Spring and Fall groups, meet weekly for 4-8 weeks
  • Each group session is 60-90 minutes
  • Outdoors on local trails in Lanark and Renfrew Counties
  • Open to all community members
  • Up to 12 per session
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program:

Lanark County, call Pam (613-259-2182) or email: pfergusson@connectwell.ca

Renfrew County, call Lara (613-582-3685) or email: lmylly@connectwell.ca

Helpful Resources

Progress over pain is a 6-week program that focuses on self-management for people living with chronic pain. Sessions are approached using principles of self-management, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Participation is interactive during the session, and self-reflective activities will be provided to complete between sessions. The workshop covers the following topics:

Session 1. Introduction and science of pain

Session 2. Stress and our stress response

Session 3. Sleep and chronic pain

Session 4. Mindfulness and acceptance

Session 5. Meaningful Activity

Session 6. Putting everything together

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 10 participants all with direct experience in living with chronic pain
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

Walking is a moderate intensity exercise that is possible for all ages to do regularly. Group walking is an enjoyable, low-cost way to increase physical activity while also enjoying the company of others. The social aspect of group walking makes it easy for people to continue in the long term. Joining a walking group has many health benefits including: improving blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, fitness, quality of life and sleep, and walking speed. The risk of depression may also be lowered. ConnectWell offers Walking groups in both Lanark and Renfrew Counties.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • Weekly group walks
  • Each walking session is 60-90 minutes
  • Outdoors on local routes and trails in Lanark and Renfrew Counties
  • Open to all community members
  • Up to 12 people per session
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program:

Lanark County, call Pam (613-259-2182) or email: pfergusson@connectwell.ca

Renfrew County, call Lara (613-582-3685) or email: lmylly@connectwell.ca

Helpful Resources

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