SENIORS PROGRAM

The Seniors Program, a core component of the Leading Strong and Healthy Lives initiative, offers a variety of activities for older adults and seniors to increase their level of physical activity and make healthier food choices.

Our senior participants are mostly Chinese immigrants who live independently in the city of San José. The majority has limited English skills. At this point in time, physical mobility is not a significant barrier to participation for the seniors who participate in our program.

The Seniors Program provides a variety of activities to maximize participation from interested older adults and seniors. Communication & flexibility are cornerstones of this program. Dates and times for activities may change throughout the year to better reflect the availability of seniors. In addition, some activities may be repeated or substituted for other activities based on input from seniors.

Activities are provided Monday through Thursday from early morning to mid afternoon. The following is a current list of activities for seniors. Walk-in’s are welcome for all activities, unless otherwise noted.

Fitness Activities:

Dance Classes – This class is taught by a Community Educator as well as special guest instructors. No previous experience required. This class is held on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM.

Yoga for Older Adults – This class is geared towards older adults and seniors of all levels. No previous experience required. Our certified yoga instructor teaches Eischens Yoga. This class is held on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 10 AM. Mats and blocks are provided.

Walking Meditation Group – This group meets once per week on Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 12 noon. This activity includes the use of a labyrinth and can also be done independent, Wednesday through Friday, from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

An evening candlelight session is also available every third Thursday of the month from 6:30 PM to 8 PM. This activity is in partnership with the First Unitarian Church of San Jose. All ages are welcome to the independent sessions.

Chinese Opera – This group meets once per week on Wednesday from 9:15 AM to 11:30 PM. The class is taught by Jian Zhang.  Advance registration is required.

The following activities have dates and times that vary. If you are interested in any of these activities, please call Vanessa at (408) 295-8722 for details.

Health Related Activities:

Nutrition Workshops – A series of six workshops are offered two times per year. Classes are led by a facilitator. Topics vary depending on senior interest.

Cooking Workshops – These individual workshops are offered three times per year. Workshops are interactive and include creating a healthy meal, sampling new or different foods, and sharing a healthy meal with other seniors.

Health Related Activities – Throughout the year, the Seniors Program partners with different organizations to bring free health fairs and free or low-cost health screenings to seniors. Guest presenters are also brought in to teach workshops on specific health topics affecting seniors. Although topics vary, Anti-Tobacco Workshops regarding smoking cessation and second hand smoke are a standard feature. Presentations and events are typically done in partnership with the Public Health Department or other nonprofits organizations.

Recreational Activities

English as a Second Language – Classes are conducted in small groups of 2-4 seniors per class. These classes are offered in partnership with the Ohana Foundation and Project SHINE. Each group meets according to times that work best for seniors and their instructor.

Other Activities – Throughout the year, the Seniors Program offers opportunities to play Ping Pong, sing karaoke and other senior driven activities.

Cultural Celebrations

Lunar New Year celebration – This participant led event takes place around the lunar New Year and includes cultural dance performances, healthy foods, traditional games and much more. These activities are mostly coordinated by the Seniors Program participants. However, everyone is welcome!

Special Holidays – Throughout the year, the Seniors Program offers opportunities to celebrate special cultural events, birthdays or other senior identified holidays as a way to encourage socialization. Seniors are highly encouraged to offer suggestion and help coordinate these activities.

How to Enroll in the Seniors Program

Each senior wishing to participate in any fitness activity must complete and sign a release form prior to participation.

Each senior wishing to participate in any non-fitness activities must register in advance or use the sign in sheets provided at the beginning of each individual session.

A nominal $2 monthly enrollment fee gives you access to all Fitness and Health Related Activities. Donations are welcomed for all other activities. 

Although walk-ins are welcome for most activities, advance registration is appreciated. Please note that some activities do have a limited space capacity. To ensure your place, please register in advance by stopping by the Third Street Community Center located at 160 N. 3rd Street in downtown San Jose. You may also call (408) 295-8722 to reserve your place. Ask for Vanessa.