A year of Move and Groove!
Another highlight in 2024 was all the new and creative therapeutic interventions. The “Let’s Get Moving” initiatives provide a variety of different opportunities for our residents to become and stay active.
On Monday’s residents are accompanied to the Animal Welfare Society of Stellenbosch (AWSS). Here animal-assisted activities are incorporated with movement. Each resident is paired with a dog and they go for a 1.2km walk through the vineyards of Stellenbosch. The residents are rotated each week and every third week our residents with physical impairments who are unable to walk the distance spend the time with the puppies. On rainy days the residents go to the undercover cattery to play, groom and cuddle with the cats and kittens.
Tuesdays are for dancing and soccer! Our Dancing Queens class starts just after seven and our ladies open the floor with various fun-filled routines. Dancing helps improve physical fitness, coordination, proprioception and boosts self-esteem. Soccer practice starts at 09:30 and is open to all residents.
Wednesday mornings start with the “Ystermanne” high-intensity training session which focuses on building muscle strength, increasing fitness levels and stress relief. Netball practice also takes place at 10:30 and is also open to all residents, Netball improves fitness levels and coordination while boosting self-esteem and improving social skills. On Thursdays residents enjoy the “Move and Groove” classes before breakfast, these sessions are also open to all the residents and are Pilates-based. The focus of these classes is on developing muscle strength, refining mobility, improving flexibility as well as proprioception. In the summer months, there is also Water Aerobics in the afternoons.
Friday’s residents can enjoy a Tension and Trauma Release (TRE®) Exercise session to relieve the built-up stress of the week. There are two sessions each Friday one for the residents and one for the staff.
Staff exercise groups are also provided twice a week during lunch breaks. Ecotherapy groups include Bird Watching, Hiking, Fishing and Forest Bathing. As you can see, there are no excuses anymore for not getting out in nature or not to move!
