Facilities

Oak Ridge senior citizens have had a facility dedicated to their needs since 1977. The Center is now temporarily located at 728 Emory Valley Road while plans proceed to design and construct a new building. It is open 60 hours per week: 9 am to 9 pm on Tuesday and Thursday; 9 am to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Saturdays; the Center is closed on Sundays. Opportunities for recreation, information, volunteerism, education, health screening, computer use, Senior Nutrition Lunch Program, physical fitness, and transportation assistance are offered. Also provided are a meeting place for many community senior citizen organizations and an information source on programs/services available to the elderly. The Senior Center’s phone number is 425-3999. Lunch is served Monday through Friday, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. by reservation only. Call 425-3996 or 691-2551 by noon the day before to reserve a meal. Below is a link to the monthly activities calendar.

Activities

Drop-In Recreation

A large recreation room holds 4 pool tables and a snooker table, a jigsaw puzzle table, and other tables for checkers and card games. Vending machines and a public phone are located here. A dedicated Crafts and Painting room offers a place to sew, quilt, paint and work on other crafts throughout the day. A TV lounge has a color TV and paperback book racks, as well as comfortable sofas and chairs. A small Reading Lounge offers a place to quietly relax, read, or visit with friends. Two large classrooms are available for meetings, with smaller rooms available for classes, smaller meetings and card playing. A computer lab has internet accessible computers and a printer available for participant use. The Center is a smoke-free facility with restricted membership to participants 50 years and older. Proof of age must be presented to staff upon request. Participants may be accompanied by an under-50 spouse or adult guest (18 or older), as long as the spouse or guest is attending the same activity as the senior participant.

SMILE Program

S.M.I.L.E. stands for So Much Improvement with a Little Exercise. It is a beginner’s exercise program made up of 42 exercises that can be adapted for a seated participant. Emphasizes deep breathing, balance, flexibility and toning. The class meets at the Oak Ridge Senior Center, Room 58, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9-9:45 a.m. This is a video class- there is no charge to attend.

Tai Chi

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese exercise program, graceful and serene as a beautiful dance. Learn a series of over 100 movements that stretch, tone and strengthen all the muscle groups in your body. Taught by instructors of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Oak Ridge. Meets at the Senior Center, in the gym at the end of the hall, on Monday and Wednesday, from 10-11 a.m. Cost is $1 per session.

Senior Mixed Bowling League

Enjoy the fun of bowling with other seniors. This league, for older men and women, meets on Thursdays at 1 p.m. at Oak Ridge Bowling Center, for 32 weeks, starting in early August, and ends sometime in April. There is a weekly fee, which covers the cost of 3 games, plus banquet and other league administration fees.

Bodyworks

Bodyworks is a new exercise class for adults 50 and over who want a safe and effective workout to rid the day’s stress. Classes consist of a variety of styles to incorporate cross training and prevent boredom. The different styles that we will rotate each week are the following:

HiLo Cardio: moderate to high intensity but using low impact moves to improve the cardiovascular system. Don’t be fooled into thinking that low impact means low intensity.

Body Sculpting: using light weights, bands and pilates style exercises, all muscle groups will be taxed in this class. Weight bearing and floor exercises are performed in this class.

Interval Training: quickly switching back and forth from cardio to toning moves really burns the fat and works the heart at the same time.

Boot Camp: using exercises and drills from the military, sports, martial arts, and the old gym classes, we will burn calories and have fun doing it!

All the classes require participants to bring their personal exercise mat and small weights (3-5lbs). Classes are on going with no time limit and participants pay as they go—NO CONTRACTS! Classes are only $2/class if you are 50 or older and $3 if you are a guest under age 50. Classes start March 3, 2009. 5:45 – 6:45 in the gym. Hope to see you there!