If you are native or local to Valparaiso, you likely know about Fairgrounds Park, but did you know all that it offers?
When you drive into the parking lot of Fairgrounds Park, get out of your car, and start walking, you may not see the exercise equipment right away as it is off the walking trail along Evans Avenue.
It is known as the LifeTrail – The Advanced Wellness System. It is designed for adults 50 and over and is focused on functional fitness, helping you to maintain or improve your ability to perform everyday activities.
ElderStyle Valparaiso and Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) worked together to make LifeTrail a reality. ElderStyle Valparaiso is a consortium of members committed to making Valparaiso a community of choice for older adults.
Partners and organizations of ElderStyle include City of Valparaiso, Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc., Valparaiso Parks Department, Adult Protective Services of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC), HealthLinc, Northwest Indiana Community Action, Opportunity Enterprises, Porter County Aging & Community Services (PCACS), Valparaiso University, Valparaiso Family YMCA, and VNA of Northwest Indiana.
The exercise system has seven exercise stations that include 20 separate pieces of equipment. Users can engage in up to 150 exercises of their choice.
While the exercise equipment was designed with adults who are 50 and over in mind, everyone in the community is welcome to use it as it is a great addition to the trails that circle Fairgrounds Park.
As you walk through the equipment, it is suggested to start at the basic level. Once you have completed all repetitions and don’t feel that it is a challenge anymore, you can then move on to the next level. There are basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, and you are encouraged to always work within your ability.
Some LifeTrail Fit Tips include:
- Maintain good posture – stand or sit tall, lift your chest, and draw your shoulder blades down.
- Focus on the quality of every movement – review each sign carefully for correct body placement.
- Start small and listen to your body – sets and repetitions as listed are simply recommendations;complete fewer repetitions when needed, especially when beginning.
- Don’t hold your breath – exhale on the effort of each movement.
- Have fun – enjoy feeling your body becoming stronger and more efficient at performing daily activities.
LifeTrail is also wheelchair-friendly as they have many different exercises that are wheelchair-accessible.
The options for movement are endless. You are able to work on tricep strength and torso stability, upper body cycling, lower body cycling and stretches, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and leg extension, shoulder stability and abdominal strength, overhead press, hip lift and thigh squeeze, push up, wobble board, weighted or un-weighted squats, inverted row and core, stairs, standing stretches, and yoga poses.
There is something for everyone down at Fairgrounds Park. If you don’t have your own set of exercise equipment, you can take a drive down to Fairgrounds Park and participate in many of the different exercises they have available for the community. LifeTrail’s goal is to enhance the community of Valparaiso, and it’s safe to say it does just that.
For more information about the Valparaiso Parks Department, visit its website at www.valpoparks.org.
