Where Older Adults Can Exercise and Keep Fit in Champaign-Urbana
When you were working, your company may have offered fitness and wellness programs for all of their employees. Retirement doesn’t mean those resources are unavailable. A number of non-profit organizations and for-profit gyms in the Champaign-Urbana offer programs and classes designed to keep older adults socially and physically active.
The Champaign Park District’s 50Plus! program offers a wide range of activities – cards, potlucks, walking groups, exercise programs, and day trips.
- Membership runs May 1 – April 30 each year. Individuals aged 50+ living in Champaign-Urbana join for an annual fee of $20 before Oct. 31, or $10 beginning Nov. 1.
- Classes meet at the Douglass Annex, 804 N. Fifth St., Champaign, and Hays Recreation Center, 1311 W. Church St., Champaign.
- Offerings and schedules change seasonally. See the 50Plus section in the Champaign Park District’s most recent program guide for details.
The Urbana Park District’s Senior Club hosts regular lunches, card and game groups and many other activities.
- The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at the Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W. Stoughton, Urbana, for a potluck luncheon, meeting and entertainment.
- For the most up-to-date activities, visit their on-line event calendar and filter by 50 Plus.
The Mettler Center, 2906 Crossing Ct., Champaign, offers several classes for older adults.
- Some are designed to improve balance or relieve symptoms of arthritis while others offer low-impact exercise.
- Group fitness classes are included with membership; guests may enroll through group fitness packages.
- For more information, visit the Senior Classes page of The Mettler Center website.
The Wellness Center at Clark-Lindsey, 101 W. Windsor Road, Urbana, offers a variety of group classes including many in their swimming pool.
- Classes are designed to improve strength, balance and overall fitness.
- Clark-Lindsey residents have free access; a limited number of community memberships are available for a monthly fee.
The Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign, offers an Active Older Adults program with social activities, in-pool exercise, personal trainers and group fitness classes, all designed for older adults.
- Classes are free to YMCA members.
- Check the Y schedule for the most up-to-date listing.
Refinery Gym, 2302 W. John Street, Champaign, offers Silver Sneakers and Silver and Fit programs designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance.
- Both programs are national in scope and included with many Medicare plans.
- Visit Refinery’s website for the current schedule.
Curves Champaign-Savoy, 2227 S. Neil Street, Champaign, is a women’s only, 30-minute circuit program. The facility has an average age of 60 – 65 with many octogenarians and even a 93-year-old as regular participants. They offer Silver Sneakers, Silver and Fit and Health Alliance’s Be Fit program.
- Balance, Flexibility, Arm Strength, Core Strength, Cardio and Boxing all of which can be included with the 30 minute circuit.
- They offer a meal planning program, called Curves Complete which includes meal planning, exercise and one-on-one coaching.
Savoy Rec Center, 402 Graham St, Savoy, offers special membership rates for seniors, for both residents and non-residents. It offers group fitness classes with seniors in mind (forever fit and chair yoga are two of them).
- Seniors are ages 60 and above, for the senior couple rate, just one person has to be 60.
- View the website for membership and group fitness classes, and other options.