The formula for a healthy body is eating right, good sleep, routine checkups, and most importantly…the often avoided “E” word: Exercise. Caritas is always looking for ways to build exercise into our patients’ routines because we know the health benefits are phenomenal. Think lower blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, reduced chronic pain, immune system strength, better mobility, increased self-esteem, and the list goes on. Studies have shown it even keeps your mind sharp!

To help Caritas patients reap these benefits, we’re pleased to announce our new Caritas Cares Wellness Program. Partnering with community organizations who donated floor space—Reach KCK, Bethel Neighborhood Center and Vernon Multi-Purpose Center—we’ve hit the floor cycling, with Spin classes as well as Zumba Gold classes (a lower-intensity version of the typical Zumba class geared to meet the needs of seniors). The Spin class studio was recently unveiled in a ribbon cutting ceremony and is the first of its kind in Wyandotte County. It’s lively, it’s energetic, and the neon-lit studio with upbeat music can’t help but get bodies moving. Did I mention fun? You almost forget you’re working out. Hot Yoga classes are on the horizon, and all these opportunities come at a reduced price that people in the area can afford.

Caritas’ Community Outreach Manager, Cristal Perez, and Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, Diva Esparza are our ‘Spin Docs’ spearheading the initiative. Their enthusiasm is contagious (not a word we usually like to use when discussing health. ;) Cristal is also Caritas’ Diabetes Educator and is excited about organizing a behavioral change across the broader social framework. Fitness has always been a component of diabetes education, one of the challenges being to match patient needs with existing community resources. Another is motivating new generations to embrace the benefits of exercise.    

We expect the classes offered at Caritas Cares will tip back the scale toward positive health and wellness. This is a place to exercise comfortably, find motivation to stay active, and find positive valuable guidance from the instructors but also from fellow classmates. For many it’s a connection to community, a family of health-conscious individuals who help encourage each other toward a shared goal. Laughter is another key component of staying healthy, and there’s plenty of that in all the classes.  

This is only the beginning of the first of many initiatives we are planning that will boost the health of our communities. What better way to strengthen the ties between our clinics and our patients. We are excited to further our mission by casting a wider net within and beyond Caritas’ walls.  

Contact Cristal.Perezgarcia@CaritasClinics.org for additional information on the program.