Mercy Fitness Center - Southfork

This exercise program, developed by physical therapists, is especially tailored for people who experience joint problems. Weights, resistance bands and small playground balls can be used. It helps keep joints flexible, muscles strong and reduces pain and stiffness. Large muscle groups are worked as well as smaller muscles including the hands, fingers, feet and face. The low-impact exercises can be done either standing or sitting and the gentle range-of-motion movements are suitable for all fitness levels. 

Chair Yoga includes seated and standing gentle yoga poses geared to improving flexibility by stretching muscles, exercising joints and building muscle strength, along with improving balance and stability. Yoga releases muscle tension bringing peace and relaxation to body and mind. All classes are finished with relaxation and meditation. You may stay seated the entire class if necessary. Good for all fitness levels. Modifications are made to accommodate students' levels of ability. 

The Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve and enhance the way you move your body. Students are verbally guided through a sequence of movements in basic positions:  sitting, lying on the floor or standing. These precisely structured movement explorations engage your brain in learning and to discover your habits of moving, thinking, sensing and feeling.  By increasing your awareness of how you move, you will learn to change your habitual patterns of action and develop new alternatives, resulting in improved strength and flexibility, less pain, reduced stress and better coordination. By slowing down and getting to know yourself better, there is no end to the ways you can improve throughout your lifetime. Students must bring their own mat.  

Pilates is a method of exercise designed to stretch, strengthen and lengthen the core muscles including the abdominals, lower back and buttocks. Students will walk away with improved posture, better balance, a flatter stomach, a stronger back, better breath control and better body awareness in everyday life.  Exercises are performed primarily on the mat. Modifications are made for varying levels of ability. Students must bring their own mat.  

This class is designed to primarily increase muscle and bone strength while improving joint stability, coordination, balance and flexibility. The workout combines resistance (strength) training using weights, resistance bands and playground balls. The exercises are performed in both seated and standing positions, but these can be modified to accommodate individual needs. Students are given a resistance band for their own personal use.

The first half of this exercise class focuses on strengthening and toning the whole body with emphasis on the core muscles - back, abdominals and buttocks - using the stability ball and light weights. The benefits of using the stability balls include improving balance, increasing muscle strength and flexibility and improving coordination. The second half of the class focuses on stretching and self-myofascial release using small therapy balls and tennis balls. These are floor exercises performed on a mat. Modifications are made for varying levels of ability. Students must bring their own mat and stability ball.

Improves overall health and well-being by increasing bone density as well as muscle, tendon and ligament strength and toughness.  Strength training also helps burn fat more efficiently, improves joint function, flexibility and balance and reduces potential for injury. Both floor and standing exercises are done using weights, bands and other exercise equipment. Class suitable for people of all levels of ability as exercises will be modified for varying levels of ability. Students must bring their own mat.  

This class is a combination of stretching and self-massage techniques using small therapy balls, tennis balls and yoga straps to improve muscle flexibility, joint mobility and elasticity of the connective tissues. These exercises result in better ease of movement, increased blood flow in muscles and joints and a reduction of pain from head-to-toe.  Exercises are performed on a mat. Students must bring their own mat.  

This class is designed to increase muscle and bone strength with an emphasis on core strength, core balance and whole-body flexibility. After a ten-minute warm-up the workout begins with twenty minutes of strength training using weights, resistance bands and playground balls. Fifteen minutes of balance training is performed while standing using different foot stances and movements and movements with the eyes closed. The remaining fifteen minutes of class focuses on stretching the entire body while seated. Students are given a resistance band for their personal use

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. It is often described as "meditation in motion." Originally developed for self-defense, Tai Chi has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that’s now used for many health improvements. Benefits include stress relief, improved lower body and leg strength, improved balance, reduces blood pressure, enhances mental capacity and concentration and reduces bone loss in menopausal women to name a few. It is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. When learned correctly and performed regularly (about 20 minutes per day), Tai Chi can play an important part in improving your health. 

This class is specifically designed for people with Parkinson's Disease and other chronic medical conditions who otherwise may not exercise. It's low impact format puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. Tai Chi is a great way to improve health with such benefits as increased flexibility and balance, reduced stress and anxiety, improved lower body and leg strength and more.  An ancient Chinese tradition originally developed for self-defense, today, Tai Chi is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of slowly performed movements in a focused manner accompanied by deep breathing and is often described as "meditation in motion." The room is set up with props to help with steadiness for student safety.  When learned correctly and performed regularly, Tai Chi can be a positive part of an overall approach to improving health. 

Vinyasa yoga focuses on connecting the breath to your movements. Also called "flow yoga," you can expect to stay in a constant flow of movements as you transition from pose to pose. You'll raise your heart rate, endurance and muscle tone as well as lower your anxiety and help you manage stress. It builds strength and improves posture helping to keep the metabolic rate strong and consistent. It is ideal for all levels of participants with modifications given if needed. It offers fun and variety - a style of yoga that invites anyone to participate. Students must bring their own mat.

This class is slow-paced combining deep relaxing breathing, a variety of physical postures as well as meditation. It’s slow pace and types of poses make it a good starting place for yoga beginners. It increases circulation, releases muscle tension bringing peace and relaxation to body and mind.  Classes feature both mat and standing movements. Modifications are made to accommodate students’ levels of ability. Students must bring their own mat.