<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xghli_1FRWagIg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xghli_1FRWagIg00" width="1768" height="1173" ><figcaption>Photo by Alexandra Retter The Winona State University Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program brings the university’s clinical exercise students together with community members to stay active.</figcaption></figure>Community members and Winona State University (WSU) students chatted while keeping up the pace on their walk around the indoor track. The community members are part of a WSU program meant to help adults with heart or breathing concerns find exercises that keep them feeling healthy and active in a supportive community. The WSU students and individuals paired through this free program said exercising together is a social outlet and opportunity to learn from one another. The long-running program is open to anyone with a diagnosis of heart or pulmonary disease or with risk factors, and there are no restrictions based on ability, as WSU clinical exercise students create individualized exercise programs with faculty guidance, Clinical Exercise Major and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program Director Teresa Eber Lee said. Community members complete exercises to improve aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility, and balance, she said. She and students can also help address questions about managing diet and stress. Participant Shirley Brand said the program helps her and her husband stay consistent with exercising. “It keeps us on track,” she said. Participant Chris Nisbitsaid in the same vein, “[We] always get fresh perspectives on different [exercises] to do. [Students] give you different programs you can work on.” For WSU senior clinical exercise major Lukas Boden Stab, the program illustrated that people have lots of strength they may not initially imagine they do and can work through big life changes. “And also sometimes, we’re not always going to be the same as we were before. A lot of people when they’re in this program, they’ve experienced a life event that is one of, it not the most, significant thing that’s happened in their life — whether that be a stroke, heart attack … [They’re] going to have to figure out how [they]’re going to reassess what [their] day-to-day is,” he said. When community members are able to participate in fun activities outside the gym because of the work they put into exercising during the program, Lee gets excited. “[I like] seeing people who might’ve come in very deconditioned, and within months, all of a sudden, they’re coming in and saying, ‘Oh my god, I was able to go antiquing this weekend for the first time in years, and I had enough energy to do that,’ or, ‘I was able to go to the apple orchard with my grandkids, and I was able to keep up for the first time in years,’” she said. Beyond the physical health benefits, community members benefit from being part of a supportive network of fellow program attendees and students, Lee said. “[I appreciate] seeing people who come in who really need that social support and how they just light up when they come in this room, because they have a place to go three times a week,” she said. She added, “They check on each other. They care about each other. If someone misses, they’re going to be asking me where they are [and] [if] I know if everything OK with them. So it’s definitely a very big social hour.” Brand said it’s great for community members to get to know the students and for students to get to know the community members. “And so hopefully it’s an experience for [students] to talk to people and figure out you don’t need to be afraid of a patient that’s got some issues going on,” she said. Participant Steve Nychaelis similarly said, “It’s good to meet new people every semester and have a lot of fun with the students and [Lee].” Stab’s favorite part of the program is hearing community members’ stories. “Everyone has a huge wealth of experience … That’s a big motivator. I want to come back and keep hearing these stories, and I want to help write that next chapter in these people’s stories,” he said.&nbsp;Those interested in the program may contact Lee at 507-457-2271 or telee@winona.edu for more information. </div></body>

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Community members and Winona State University (WSU) students chatted while keeping up the pace on their walk around the indoor track. The community members are part of a WSU program meant to help adults with heart or breathing concerns find exercises that keep them feeling healthy and active in a supportive community. The WSU students and individuals paired through this free program said exercising together is a social outlet and opportunity to learn from one another.

Students, community stay active at WSU

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Community members and Winona State University (WSU) students chatted while keeping up the pace on their walk around the indoor track. The community members

Students, community stay active at WSU

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