Active Living Center

About the Active Living Center

The Active Living Center at the Andover/North Andover YMCA is a one-of-a kind resource when it comes to promoting health and wellness for older adults (age 65+). The funding for the center was provided through a generous donation from the Wood Family Trust. Many of our programs are made possible through the generous support of the Andover Home for Aged People, and our kind and caring members at the Merrimack Valley YMCA. The center consists of trained staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and specialized services to ensure older adults have access to the very best resources to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Active living center for older adults age 65+

An Active Lifestyle

An active lifestyle is the single best strategy to help us stay more independent as we age, giving us the physical capacity do the things that are important to us. It can help us get stronger, improve balance, feel more energized, prevent disability and prevent or control chronic health problems like arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Not just physical health, experts believe that an active body promotes an active mind: exercise improves memory, mental alertness, mood, and feelings of well-being. Faculty and students from the Merrimack College Health Sciences program also contribute programming expertise and personalized instruction as they skillfully support activities held at the center.

health and wellness programs for seniors age 65+

Hours

Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 2:00pm
Program activities during these designated hours are tailored to active older adults.

Cost

The Active Living Center is offered free of charge to all members 65+ of the Merrimack Valley YMCA. Some special events may require a minimal fee.

Sign Up Today

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact ALC Coordinator, Paul Discipio at pdiscipio@mvymca.org or 978-685-3541.

Class Descriptions Class Schedule Benefits & Services Special Classes Neuro Power Livestrong

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Class Descriptions

Ageless

This class does not use a chair but also does not go to the floor for any exercises. Dawn does a blend of cardiovascular training with muscle conditioning worked in, along with some balance and stretch. Some find it to be a higher energy class than most of the other ALC offerings.

Chair Yoga

This class has standing and chair based Yoga poses but does not use full floor poses.

Enhanced Fitness

Live Fit

This class covers everything fitness, including muscle strength and endurance, cardio conditioning, balance, core and stretching. The instructor will use a variety of music and movements guiding you through this standing and chair exercise class.

Silver Spinners

This spin class for seniors includes a stretching session at the end.

Silver Strength

A standing and chair based class, designed for basic muscle strengthening and local muscle endurance, toning, and sculpting. It begins with a warm-up continues into the muscle conditioning and finishes with some stretching.

Strength and Balance

This class can be done standing, seated, or with a walker as an aid. It is designed to build muscle strength, balance and basic conditioning set to aerobics music. The class uses a variety of conditioning equipment including balance pads and hand weights.

Tai Chi

This is a very gentle form of this martial art. The class will develop standing endurance and balance. The motions are slow and methodical but will build good balance control in situations of turning through the spine and pivoting on the feet. This class is a form of meditative action where the motion of the body is coupled with meditative focus.

Class Schedule

Print May Schedule

Benefits & Services

The specially trained and caring staff of the Active Living Center offer a variety of tailored programs, activities, and service for older adults including:

Basic wellness evaluations for posture, joint flexibility, balance and conditioning.
Guided programs to improve balance, strength and “functional” fitness.
The YMCA offers a follow-up class to the Enhanced Fitness Program for those with arthritis and other chronic conditions.
An automated blood pressure cuff is available for use in the Active Living Center.
A diet workshop and food journaling class.
Periodic cooking and baking demonstrations in the YMCA kitchen.
Non-fitness related special events and presentations. For example, we have presentations by volunteer members on various topics including the Kennedy Library and Museum, poetry including poems relating to local landmarks, and the unique photography of breath taking scenery and the beauty of flowers.
Bingo is played in the Active Living Center as a YMCA fundraiser with prizes for participants approximately four times per year.
A social area for relaxing and catching up with friends, located at the inside entrance to the Active Living Center.

health and wellness program for older adults age 65+

Special Classes

For 2025 we have a Tuesday 10:30 am workshop with a different wellness topic each month. Some of the newer topics are The Squat and Hip Hinge Class, which will teach people how to squat with two different basic positions; one that removes stress from the knees, and one that helps strengthen the front thigh muscles to help protect the knees. Protecting the Shoulder and Rotator Cuff is running during the early spring and Conditioning the Pelvic Floor for Women will run mid spring. Deciphering Protein Powders is slated for the summer time and this class examines the need for protein in the body, how much protein per day is required and then explains all about protein powders. The last newer class is understanding Atherosclerosis AKA “clogged arteries” which will run later in the year in November. Learn more about these classes: