Photos Courtesy of Benevilla
Benevilla is excited to announce they have confirmed a Wednesday, August 10 ribbon cutting date for the new Benefitness adaptive gym, their latest program designed to meet a vital community need.
Joanne Thomson, President and CEO of Benevilla, and Lorrie Karn, Director of Benefitness, will host the 9 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony with Surprise Mayor Skip Hall and city council members, Benevilla Board and staff, local business partners, and community dignitaries. The public is encouraged to join the event to help Benevilla celebrate the occasion. The ribbon cutting takes place at Benevilla, located at 16752 N. Greasewood Street in Surprise.
The Benefitness Adaptive Gym will start classes and programs and be open to the public in mid-July. The gym has been taking shape over the last few months as equipment, furnishings and exercise accessories have been installed. The gym will offer modified equipment for individuals in wheelchairs, people who have limited motion, and those who are differently abled so they can meet their health and wellness goals.
Benefitness is a unique program providing specialized individual and group fitness training to our community of older adults and those with different abilities, including those with early onset diagnoses (e.g., Parkinson’s, dementia, MS, and more) looking to improve physical efficiencies, mental acuity, strength, balance, and overall wellbeing. Each member will be coached to reach individualized wellness goals to improve their health and enrich their lives.
The adaptive gym will also have a room dedicated to the Rock Steady Boxing Benevilla program. Rock Steady Boxing is dedicated to the fight against Parkinson’s. Exercises are inspired by boxing drills. Rock Steady boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and overall strength to defend against or overcome the decline related to Parkinson’s.
Through a community survey and a community needs assessment, Benevilla learned that many older residents do not know how to exercise properly, have access to proper adaptive equipment, and do not receive adequate support from gym staff who may be used to younger gym members.
“We are so excited to be opening the first location in the Northwest Valley to offer an adaptive gym and Rock Steady Boxing Benevilla to those in our community facing the challenges of aging and early stages of dementia,” Karn says. “Our program will help improve the quality of life of our members, their strength and balance, and their ability to perform routine tasks of daily life.”
A healthy food and smoothie bar, Birt’s Café, will be available in the gym as well as the Retreat, a unique caregiver respite and relaxation space with massage chairs, aromatherapy, water feature and a conversation area. Highly trained staff will work one-on-one with each family to set specialized and attainable goals for each member. In addition, the gym will have an array of equipment not specifically adaptive as well that can be used by the public to meet their health goals including stationary bikes, cross trainers, strength equipment, free weights, and core equipment.
If you would like more information, call Benevilla at 623-584-4999.
