One of the unique services we offer at Tapestry that you won’t find at any other retirement communities is our on-site kinesiology services. It’s part of our holistic approach to wellness that creates an environment where you can thrive and focus on staying healthy, active and engaged.

What is kinesiology? It is, simply, the study of human movement including physical activity and sport, their impact on health, performance, society, and quality of life. We employ highly educated and trained professionals who are dedicated to providing you with the support and guidance you need to maintain or improve your physical health.

For seniors in particular, there are many benefits from kinesiology including:

• Better posture and alignment
• Relief from pain and stiffness
• Increased strength, flexibility and mobility along with injury prevention
• Improved breathing and circulation
• Improved overall health and reduced stress levels.

Our on-site kinesiologists offer a variety of options and activities that can be tailored to your particular needs, including:

Group classes – these can range from strength and balance to total body fitness, stretching, seated classes, meditation and yoga. There are also workshops focused on balance and fall prevention and others with a focus on strength and conditioning, including programs designed for those battling Parkinson’s Disease. Group classes are also a great way to stay motivated, socialize and make new friends.

One-on-one coaching – this can include an individualized plan to help you recover from an injury or surgery, or to improve your fitness level to maintain a more active lifestyle. Our kinesiologists can work with you to develop a personalized program you can follow independently in one of our well-appointed gyms and provide support in reaching your wellness goals.

Daily events and excursions – as part of our Wellness team, kinesiologists help residents participate in outings and other activities that are designed to keep them active. These include anything from a walk in a local park, to hiking or swimming at a local pool. All group fitness classes and excursions are included/free of charge.

The kinesiology team at Tapestry at Wesbrook Village includes Sophie Brumwell and Laura Duggan, who are both excited by the benefits they see when working with Tapestry residents.

“Exercise is medicine, especially for older adults,” says Sophie. “What I learned in my degree and from the research is that there is so much that movement can offer, and there are benefits that you can’t get from a drug.”

“It’s extremely important for seniors to continue exercising,” says Laura. “It helps their joints remain durable. As we age our muscles get weaker and we are more prone to arthritis, so it’s extremely important to do weight bearing exercises and resistance training,” she says.

Laura says she also sees the psychological benefits of regular movement. “Exercise can decrease stress and anxiety, and the social aspect of coming to a group class can inspire you to do more,” she says. “Plus we like to make the environment fun – we have a great rooftop gym, we play upbeat music and we also like to change things up for variety,” Laura adds.

Busola Adeyinka, who works with residents at Tapestry at Arbutus Walk, sees the important link between physical fitness and independence. “Being able to stand on their own two feet, get up from bed, and walk with less dependence on a cane or walker – this makes seniors feel strong and freer. I like to help give them back their strength,” she says.

Edmar Canlas, who works with Busola, agrees. “When a resident is more confident in the way they are able to move, they have less fear and more joy of movement. When they make gains in their strength and flexibility, for some it means they can get back to doing something they like to do,” he adds.

Adds Busola: “We help the residents track their progress and see the little wins that are keeping them moving. Many of our female residents grew up in an era where women weren’t doing as much exercise as they should have, and for some, the idea of weight training may be intimidating. I like to help them find their ‘boss woman’ energy in the gym,” she adds.

Fatima Rabago, a kinesiologist at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour, loves to help residents there debunk the idea of the “frail senior”. “Seniors are more independent than some might think, and they are able to do a lot of things, even things they didn’t know they were capable of,” she says.

One example Fatima shared was of a newer resident who insisted he couldn’t do a push up. With Fatima’s encouragement, he discovered that he actually could! Another resident who had been active her whole life moved into Tapestry with limited mobility, using a walker. Thanks to her sessions with Fatima, she is now doing squats and walking five kilometres at a time!

Brayan Martinez, Wellness Supervisor at Tapestry at Village Gate West, recently welcomed two new kinesiologists to the team – Shaquelle Hibbert and Brandon Owusu. The two new employees say they are excited to work with Tapestry residents on their fitness goals, and also to contribute to the overall activity levels in the community.

Brayan says all new Tapestry residents receive a physical assessment to determine their current fitness level. An individualized plan is then created for them which can focus on a goal to return to a previous fitness level or to maintain their current fitness. This Tapestry location is also lucky to feature a pool, where the team can offer regular aquafit classes, as well as the opportunity to swim lengths independently.

At Tapestry, we align everything we offer to our 7 Dimensions of Wellness, and our kinesiologists are trained to help residents advance their physical, occupational, social and intellectual fitness. If you are looking for a vibrant and active retirement living community, please contact us and we would be pleased to host you for lunch and a tour. You can also read more about how our kinesiology services have benefited some of our residents.