By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

CLANTON — The YMCA of Chilton County is offering a different kind of exercise program for those who have arthritis.

Director Lori Patterson said the exercises “are not a cardiovascular workout. They are designed to prevent stiffness and pain.”

The program is also designed to increase a person’s range of motion.

“We try to work every joint in the body,” Patterson said.

The program includes different exercises to target large and small joints, even as small as one’s toes. Each exercise works to increase the range of motion in that joint. Classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.

The classes are free for those 80 years of age and older, regardless of Y membership. For those younger than 80, the classes are $5 or free for Y members. The first class for non-members is free, according to Patterson.

Earlier this year, the Y had received requests to offer exercise classes for older adults.

Patterson said she has 12 years working in the exercise field with older adults. She has also received training through Arthritis Foundation in the past. Patterson used this knowledge to move forward with planning a class.

“The exercises were based on recommendations by the Arthritis Foundation,” Patterson said.

Joyce Vaughn is the instructor for most of the sessions.

The classes began Nov. 1 and Patterson said the response has been good.

Since the class can accommodate however many people show up, registration for the classes is not required.