Devonshire Senior Community Expands Personalized Fitness Programs to Enhance Resident Well-being
Devonshire's specialized fitness programs, led by experienced trainers, demonstrate how personalized senior fitness approaches can significantly improve physical health, mobility, and overall quality of life for older adults.
Devonshire, the Erickson Senior Living community at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has significantly enhanced its fitness offerings through personalized approaches led by experienced specialists Deborah Mazda and Remy Harwood. The community's state-of-the-art fitness center, equipped with top-notch strength and cardio machines along with free weights and exercise accessories, serves as the foundation for their comprehensive wellness program.
Mazda, who holds a master's degree in physiology and sports psychology and brings 40 years of fitness experience, emphasizes the importance of strength maintenance for seniors. "As we age, we lose muscle mass, so my goal is to keep everyone as strong as possible. Healthy seniors are happy seniors!" she states. The fitness specialists provide personalized orientations for new residents, assessing individual abilities and goals to create tailored exercise plans rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
The program's success is evident through popular group classes including Pilates Circles, which Mazda developed specifically for seniors by combining yoga, Pilates, and balance work while seated in chairs. Community member Toni Goodman, who participates in multiple classes weekly, notes the transformative impact: "When I finish, I feel ten feet tall–loose and limber, ready to start the day. The Devonshire fitness staff has given me the tools and moral support to make much of this possible."
The fitness offerings extend beyond traditional exercises to include two aquatics classes, Zumba, and an upcoming Rock Steady Boxing class designed for residents with Parkinson's disease. This evidence-based exercise curriculum aims to impact symptoms and slow disease progression, demonstrating the community's commitment to addressing specific health challenges faced by seniors.
Residents report significant improvements in mobility and quality of life, with Goodman sharing how the program enabled her to wear heeled shoes and dance at a social event despite previous injuries. The personalized instruction and variety of engaging opportunities have transformed exercise from a chore into an enjoyable social activity that produces measurable health benefits and enhanced retirement experiences for Devonshire residents.