Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness

Pike Fitness Center welcomes Zumba instructor Michele Kolp

Pike Fitness Center in Dingmans Ferry, PA is privileged to welcome ZUMBA instructor, Michele Kolp to our group exercise instructor team.

Michele comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge in dance and fitness. Michele received her Bachelors in Fine Arts in dance from Montclair State University.

She has performed and toured with dance companies throughout the tri-state area, and has had the privilege of performing and teaching extensively both in the U.S and abroad.

She is currently a performer and public relations manager with World Dance Theatre, an ethnic dance company based in both New York and Pennsylvania. Michele has worked with the NEIU 19 and with Young Audiences New York to bring dance into the public school systems.

She is a certified Zumba Fitness Instructor and is also a Certified Group Exercise Instructor with the American Council on Exercise.ZUMBA, known as the hottest trend in the fitness industry, is a cardiovascular exercise class that mixes Latin rhythm and easy-to-follow moves that create a one-of-a-kind fitness program for the entire body!

We offer 6-week Zumba sessions with Michele at Pike Fitness.Summer sessions start the week of June 14^th.Call Pike Fitness Center at: 570-686-4300 ext. 2 for more information or to register.You’ve not experienced the ultimate group exercise class until you’ve tried ZUMBA with Michele!Come on down and join the cardio party!!

Free flu and pneumonia shot clinic and hearing screenings at Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness Center

DINGMANS FERRY, Pa. - Complications from seasonal influenza hospitalize more than 200,000 Americans each year and result in the deaths of more than 36,000. Older adults are particularly vulnerable; yet, according to the U.S. Department of Health, only about 64 percent of those over age 65 get the annual seasonal flu vaccine.

Since getting the annual seasonal flu vaccine is the single best way to avoid seasonal flu, Highmark Insurance is making the flu vaccine available throughout the month of October, at SilverSneakers locations throughout Western Pennsylvania. Pneumonia shots are also available at these flu shot clinics.

“Our goal is to keep members healthy,” said Judith Black, M.D., medical director for Highmark, Senior Markets. “We do that through preventive health solutions such as flu shot clinics and SilverSneakers. We are advising members that this year’s seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against the new H1N1 influenza strain, also known as swine flu. They should talk to their doctor for the latest information about this flu strain or find information at the CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.”

What: Free Flu and Pneumonia Shot Clinic AND Hearing Screenings
Where: Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness Center, 1346 Rt. 739, Dingmans Ferry, PA
When: Friday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Who: Highmark FreedomBlue, SecurityBlue, MedigapBlue members; Medicare Part B members; Aetna members (flu only). Bring your ID card.

For all others, the cost is $30 for flu and $45 for pneumonia. Hearing Screenings are FREE!

Call to Schedule an Appointment: 570-686-4300, ext. 2.

About the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program

The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is offered by Healthways, an industry leader providing specialized, comprehensive Health and Care SupportSM solutions to help people maintain or improve their health. SilverSneakers was founded in 1992 and is the nation’s leading exercise program designed exclusively for older adults, offering an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially-oriented programming. The unique program is available at no additional cost (other than any medical plan premium) to eligible Medicare members and group retirees at more than 9,400 participating fitness and wellness centers, YMCAs, and Curves® locations in all 50 states. SilverSneakers is currently offered at Pike PT Fitness Center. For more information on this program, please call us at: 570-686-4300, ext. 2.

SilverSneakers® program in Dingmans Ferry, PA

Pike County seniors are reaching higher, moving faster, and feeling better through the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program.

This program, brought to us by Healthways, Inc. is the Nation's leading exercise program designed exclusively for older adults. It offers an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programming that allows older adults to take greater control of their health.

The unique program is at no additional cost to eligible Medicare members and is currently offered in 49 states at more than 2,800 participating fitness and wellness centers.

Physical activity can benefit older adults by improving mobility, promoting heart health, and preventing onset of diabetes.

According to the study, "Managed-Medicare Health Club Benefit and Reduced Health Care Costs Among Older Adults" funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SilverSneakers® participants visit their primary care physician more often with increased preventative care and fewer inpatient admissions.

Reduced healthcare costs were tracked through the study. A savings average of $500 for exercisers compared with the control group that did not participate in the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program. Cost savings also increased with increased fitness center usage. An average of 2 visits per week for 2 years averaged a savings of at least $1,252 in the second year compared to those who only exercised once per week!

Fitness Center Manager at Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness Center on Route 739 in Dingmans Ferry , PA , Rachael Bell applauds the program. "Most people believe that we stop exercising because we get old. But the contrary is true. We get old because we stop exercising. Someone once said that our bodies are like cars. The older they get, the more care they require.

The SilverSneakers® exercise classes at our fitness center are doing just that for our Pike County Seniors. It's the best ‘body mechanic shop' around!" 69-year-old Caroline Todino of Dingmans Ferry said the program is helping her normally painful right arm. "It was always bothering me. Now, after stretching it out, I have no pain." She also talked about her knees. "I'm upset when I miss a class, especially when my knees hurt from not exercising." She tells all her friends and family in Florida to find a SilverSneakers® Fitness Program near them.

"I enjoy two hours of SilverSneakers® classes a week," said 75-year-old Jean Stockmal, of Wild Acres in Dingmans Ferry. "It is a gentle, fun program that has improved my balance, increased my dexterity, and especially my stamina." She loves the friendly atmosphere, the instructors, and the great music!

SilverSneakers® is fulfilling its original goals for the program. It boosts health to improve quality of life, and in turn, can save on healthcare costs. The SilverSneakers® motto is "FIT, FUN, & FRIENDS." That is exactly what any senior will get from this program. The best medicine you can give your body is exercise, no matter how old you are. And why not make friends and have fun doing it?!

For more information, please visit www.silversneakers.com or call Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness Center at 570-686-4300.

Fitness football scores another win at Pike PT

The past four weeks was full of Football fun and games down at Pike PT Fitness Center in Dingmans Ferry! No need to be an athlete or have any football experience to play Fitness Football. Teams of three competed against other members to acquire as many touchdowns as possible during a 4-quarter (weeks) game. Each team was responsible for tracking their daily fitness. Fitness activities were worth so many yards. The goal was to complete as many fitness activities each week to acquire the assigned yardage in order to move your team football down the field. Teams had fun and innovative ways to score the extra point after a touchdown, as well as making a field goal. The top five teams with the highest scores by the end of the game WON!!!

Local businesses in the area all donated $50 gift certificates. Teams had a choice of gift certificates from local restaurants, salons, hardware stores, I month karate lessons, or 1 month membership to the Pike PT Fitness Center. Our donating businesses were: Rimby's Restaurant located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry, The Muir House located on Milford Road in Milford, Frattelli's Italian Restaurant located on Rt. 206 in Sandyston, NJ, Flair Hardware located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry, True Value Hardware located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry, Luhrs Ace Hardware located on Rt. 209 in Milford, Dezigns Salon located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry, Beauty Creations located on Rt. 739 in Lords Valley, Buzz Cuts located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry, and three one month of lessons to the Isshinryu Katate Family Center located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry.

We had 12 teams of three participate in Fitness Football. Some teams were extremely competitive which made the game that much more fun! Our first place team with 54 points is the Good Time Gang: Barbara Connolly, Joy Inserra, and Karin Lindsley. They had first picks and chose the restaurant gift certificates. Second place with 45 points is the Devils with Halo's: Robert Laughlin, Lora Castoro, and Joanne Bucknam. They chose the Hardware gift certificates. Third place with 33 points is the Sneaker Kings: Exio Dominguez, Anthony Recino, & Keith Lindsley. They chose the Karate Lessons. Coming in Forth place with 30 points is the Work-Out Warriors: Sharon Doherty, Jeanne Bowker, & Jen Sciano. They chose the Salon gift certificates. And in Fifth place with 24 points is the Wanna-Be 8's: Tammy Fabela, Tina DeSantis, & Greg Joslyn. They chose the 1 month gym membership.

Thank you to all who participated in playing Fitness Football, the donating businesses for the great prizes, and the hard work of the Pike PT Fitness Center staff. Please join us for Maintain, Don't Gain holiday motivational program already in progress! Weekly weigh in's through out the holiday season, this 8-week accountability program will help members maintain their weight during the high calorie, binging Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years holidays! Prizes will be awarded for all who maintain their weight within 2 pounds of their start weight. Holiday specials are also available! Come on down and check us out! We make fitness FUN at Pike PT Fitness Center, located on Rt. 739 in Dingmans Ferry across from the Ding-Del Primary School. We can be reached at 570-828-8721 or on the web at: www.pikept.com.

Fitness baseball big hit at Pike PT

Ester Irwin, second from left, of Far Away Places Travel Agency presents the first place prize to Pike Physical Therapy & Fitness Center's Fitness Baseball winner Sharon Doherty, third from left. Sharon only missed three days of workouts during the six week contest. Also pictured is Rachael Bell, fitness coordinator/personal trainer/instructor at Pike PT Fitness Center, left, and Joanne Bucknam, a floor manager, personal trainer and class instructor at Pike PT Fitness Center.

Fitness Baseball was a big hit at Pike PT Fitness Center.

72 members and staff participated in this fun fitness center game that was designed to encourage everyone to get out and exercise at Pike PT's fitness center during the busy summertime.

Our six-inning game started Monday, June 18and ended Sunday, July 29.

Each inning was a week and each player was his or her own team.

Activities in the gym were worth so many bases (for example, 30 minutes on the treadmill was a single, taking a group exercise class was a double, doing 5 weight machines was a stolen base).

Players competed against each other by completing as many fitness activities as they could in order to "hit" the most runs in each "inning."Home runs were totaled at the end of each week.

The most home runs at the end of our six-inning game won. Many prizes donated by local businesses in the area were awarded to help motivate our "baseball players."

Our first place winner was Sharon Doherty who had a whopping 74 home runs. Sharon, who will be Delaware Valley High School's new athletic trainer, won an all inclusive two day, one night stay at Caesars Pocono Palace Resort courtesy of Far Away Places Travel located in Dingmans Ferry and Milford.

"I loved playing Fitness Baseball," says Sharon. "Especially the 23 pounds I lost during the 6-week program!"

Second place went to Jennifer Sciano with 58 runs. She won an $80 gift certificate to Knobby's Restaurant located near Lake Wallenpaupack.

Third place with 47 runs went to Diane French who won a beach bag full of goodies and a $50 gift certificate to the Candle Cottage located next to Arnold's Country Store in Dingmans Ferry.

Here are some of our other winners:

Joy Inserra: 36 runs, $25 gift certificate to Action Outfitters in Milford
Barbara Connolly: 26 runs, breakfast at the Fork Lift Café in Dingmans Ferry
John Scott: 22 runs, one night stay and breakfast at Mt. Haven Resort
Kraig Vanduzer: 22 runs, breakfast at the Fork Lift Café in Dingmans Ferry
Anthony Recino: 21 runs, breakfast at the Fork Lift Café in Dingmans Ferry
Vicki McNeely: 19 runs, breakfast at the Fork Lift Café in Dingmans Ferry

The Pike PT staff game winners are:

Heather Dimenno: 28 runs, one night tay with breakfast at the Black Walnut Inn in Milford
Karin Lindsley: 26 runs, $50 gift certificate to the Side Street Café in Dingmans Ferry
Jeanne Bowker: 20 runs , $30 gift certificate to Joy's Garden Spot located in Wild Acres in Dingmans Ferry

Thank you to every one who participated in Fitness Baseball and to all the local businesses who donated prizes; we had a blast!

Keep your eyes open for Fitness Football coming this October to the Pike PT's Fitness Center. Different games, different rules and teams of three will compete for some more great prizesCome on down and find out how to get in on the fun this fall! For more information, call (570) 686-4300.

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For more information about any of these stories, call (570) 686-4300.