“ Tower at The Oaks resident Kurt Strauss walks around Lake Eleanor and toward one of 26 pads that make up the LifeTrail outdoor wellness system at The Oaks of Louisiana. Holly Winterrowd, manager/senior wellness coordinator for The Oaks, and Sami Musser, exercise instructor, walk alongside, giving words of encouragement and touting the benefits of doing a workout outdoors. A clear sky, fresh air and bright sunshine greet a willing but tentative Strauss. It is the first time Strauss has used the LifeTrail, the only one of its kind in the region and one of The Oaks’ many amenities that promote an active adult lifestyle.
“Studies show that 20 minutes a day of being outdoors has physical and mental health benefits,” Winterrowd says. “You soak up the sunlight and your vitamin D level rises, which is necessary for brain, bone and muscle function. Vitamin D helps fight certain conditions like osteoporosis, cancer and heart attacks. You get more exercise because you put your body in motion outdoors and aren’t sitting in front of a television. And sunshine tends to elevate your mood. It’s good for your psyche.” Winterrowd says the LifeTrail equipment gives residents an overall workout that is just as effective as the state-of-the-art equipment inside the Spa & Wellness Center. “Residents are also getting the health benefits that being outdoors provides,” she says.
“The LifeTrail is designed to make it easier for senior adults to perform daily tasks and enjoy a better quality of life by offering progressively challenging exercises,” Winterrowd says. “Exercises are patterned after twists, turns and movements of everyday life, like reaching up or down or bending over.”
“Muscles work together rather than independently. It is an integrated approach,” she says.
Each LifeTrail station features three activity panels with user-friendly instructions that make it easy to customize the workout according to comfort level and ability, Winterrowd explains. “Residents can adjust the level of intensity for beginner, intermediate and advanced and, when necessary, can adjust equipment to fit their height.”
Because the LifeTrail is strategically placed throughout The Oaks campus and not concentrated in one area, residents also benefit physically and mentally from exposure to the tranquil setting of The Oaks campus at large – natural sights and sounds of wildlife, water, and wind through the leaves.
“The LifeTrail is a great amenity for our residents and one that underscores The Oaks’ active adult philosophy,” Winterrowd says. “We want our residents to age well and that is supported through our Spa & Wellness Center and indoor saltwater pool, the many fitness classes that are offered and the equipment we provide for our residents for their own personal workouts – indoors as well as outdoors.
