By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

In this episode, RPTV visits the Regent Park Fitness, Dance and Meditation for Seniors & People with Disabilities program running in partnership with Dancing with Parkinson’s at the 252 Sackville Street's amenity room. It takes place every Wednesday from 3 to 4PM. This program is specifically designed for seniors and people living with disabilities in our local community to bring them out of isolation into a healthy and nourishing community where they can connect with others, create a sense of belonging and wellbeing, exercise together, dance to music, and enjoy mindful meditation.

“What is really important about this program is that it creates a sense of belonging to community and cohesion. It’s really great to see the seniors and people with disabilities enjoying the program altogether like a family and that’s the way community should be: inclusive and not having people fall through the cracks” said Thunder Cloud to RPTV.

The Seniors’ Fitness program was founded originally by Mrs. Pamela Lalla, a long time Regent Park resident and advocate who resided at 252 Sackville St, a 160-unit apartment building for seniors that was built as part of the Regent Park revitalization effort and opened in 2009.

Before the pandemic, the seniors’ fitness program was facilitated by Constables Mustafa Popalzai and Farzad Ghotbi from 51 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers program, who also provided information on safety issues such as frauds against seniors.

During pandemic times, most Regent Park seniors’ programs were closed due to lockdowns and Covid-19 health restrictions leaving seniors and people living with disabilities often excluded, frightened, sedentary due to isolation, and falling through cracks in their lives. Many lost their loved ones due to Covid-19 and even suicide.

In 2021, long-time Regent Park residents Thunder Cloud and Leonard Swartz were inspired and motivated to launch a new seniors’ fitness, dance, and meditation program in Regent Park to honour Pamela Lalla’s community outreach work legacy in the neighbourhood as she passed away in 2020. Both offered to facilitate a weekly fitness training and guided meditation program to seniors and people with disabilities in Regent Park.

In 2022, they invited a wonderful charity called Dancing with Parkinson’s based in North York to partner with them to lead the dance instruction sessions.

Today, the seniors’ program is facilitated by dance instructor Sarah Murphy-Dyson, mindful meditation guide Thunder Cloud, and breathing, stretching, and resistance trainer Leonard Swartz.

Leonard said to RPTV that the program is invigorating, helps with memory & lifts their spirits creating a happy vibe among them. “Movement and motion are excellent activities for seniors and physically disabled residents because they promote improved blood circulation, strength, flexibility, balance, and stamina,” he said.