Senior Center Calendar

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A Beginner’s watercolor painting class is held each Monday afternoon. The instructor, Rachel Rogers, guides 8 seniors during a 4-week session, creating a portrait suitable for framing. Art programs for seniors enhance brain function as it provides intellectual stimulation; improves physical and sensorimotor functions; relieves stress, anxiety, reduces pain; and helps with depression. All supplies are provided. RSVP is required. Space is limited for each 4-week session

Chris Cruz, a professional artist who has offered classes throughout the South, will offer an acrylic art class monthly limited to 12. Chris will determine the art piece that will be created in one class. Some pieces would include notecards, acrylic and mixed media on wood, watercolors etc. Classes will be held in the Gathering Space of the senior center on Thursday afternoon. All supplies will be provided, and the supplies and art piece created will be taken home by the student. Cost: $20.00 per class.

Tai Chi is an hour of quiet and relaxed gentle movement, all based in ancient Chinese yoga and health-art practices. This slow, graceful physical art form provides many benefits to all. At Heardmont, New Forest T’ai Chi and Chi-Kung (Chinese yoga) classes include gentle stretching and natural strengthening of all major limb and trunk muscles, with the added benefit of enhancing mental clarity and focus. Improved balance, increased flexibility and strength, expanded range of motion and more efficient movement skills are prime targets in the class. Participants are in charge of their levels of involvement. The class may participate seated. 

Magee Patton leads 2 classes Tuesday mornings and Kathy Hagood 2 classes Thursday. These classes are a mixture of dance, cardio strength and flow with music. Cardio includes moving large muscles in arms, legs and hips. Heart rate increases and beathing is deeper and faster than resting.  Strengthening involves equipment including weights and bands that are provided and body weight. The class ends with yoga flow that works on flexibility and mobility.

As your body adapts to regular aerobic exercise, seniors will get stronger and fitter. Aerobic exercise activates the immune system in a good way which may leave seniors less susceptible to viral illnesses, such as colds and the flu.

Instructors have their own style and following. Classes are free and class size is limited to allow safety and distancing.

Ruth Smith, a certified REFIT instructor, leads Refit  weekly each Friday morning. REFIT, a fitness experience for everybody, uses positive music and messaging to create a judgement-free place where everybody belongs and is empowered to be themselves. REFIT classes combine fun cardio movements toning, flexibility, strength training and stretching for one power-packed hour of fitness. At REFIT we place a high value on connecting people to one another. The effects of the workout last well beyond class. Participants feel renewed, connected and healthy from the inside out. Class is free to members of the senior center. 

Join Marion Murphy, Wednesday afternoons, for an hour of Chair Yoga to cultivate awareness of the physical body and breathing through mindfulness, gentle yoga and meditation. This simple practice allows participants to prioritize self- care which leads to improved well-being. These sessions will involve movements seated in a chair and standing with support of the chair as needed. This class is appropriate for all levels of physical ability. Class is free for members of the senior center.

Seniors are led by Angelica Bice, to walk the Park at their pace every other Friday.  Weather permitting.

Susan Higgins, instructor, teaches basic line dancing steps. Improver participants should have a basic knowledge of steps and recognize the names. Dancing is a physical activity that has many physical and mental benefits. It offers some protection against dementia and exercises the body and brain. Susan provides these classes and students are asked to pay Susan $5.00 per class. Susan is not paid by Heardmont.

A new dance class, facilitated by Angelica Bice, will meet every other Friday, 11:15-12:00 beginning March 1, 2024. Seniors have the opportunity to create their own choreography and explore the elements of dance, space, time force and body. This is a type of dance that combines movement with artistic expression focusing on motor skills and the expression of emotions. No experience is needed. Come have fun with staff and other seniors.

Square dancing, also known as “Friendship Set to Music” is a group aerobic exercise activity emphasizing fun and fitness rather than competition. It is a combination of rhythmic movements to dance steps that can improve cardiovascular fitness. Dancing improves the body’s ability to use oxygen while toning and shaping the muscles. A night of square dancing can equal a 3–5-mile walk. Square dancing also improves mental stimulation by keeping the mind active and alert as dancers follow “calls” or instructions given by the caller. Participation is not limited by age, gender or physical fitness. A 4 month long square dance class with weekly lessons, is generally taught at least once a year, depending on enrollment. Participants who complete the course are welcome to join any of the numerous clubs to continue square dancing lifelong. There is a fee per class and a quarterly fee for those interested in Club Membership.

The Shelby Shufflers Square Dance Club, established in 1976, is a group of seniors who square dance the first and third Friday nights of each month at Heardmont Senior Center from 7-9pm. Visitors are welcome. 

Bingo is a game of chance in which participants use cards, divided into horizontal and vertical spaces. Each space is designated by a letter and a number. Letters and numbers are selected at random. A bingo ball is used in the selection process. A caller draws the numbered balls and calls out the Bingo numbers for the players. A card contains 24 numbered spaces and one free space.  Participants pay $0.25 for each card per game.  The winner receives the quarters collected for that game and their choice of one food or personal item per day. This is a great way to enjoy fun and fellowship. No skill is required.

An additional Bingo, sponsored by service organizations in Shelby County, is held once a month Wednesday's 12:30-1:15. Sponsors provide prizes for game winners.  FREE

Bridge is a card game played with different variations of rules. Bridge is one of the most fascinating card games played.  Bridge is a complex game. It takes a sharp mind to be a successful player. But the most successful players started with little or no knowledge of how to play the game. Playing Bridge makes seniors more social, eager to learn and use great tactics that will solve every situation when playing the game.

There are different types of Bridge games; Rubber Bridge, Contract Bridge, Duplicate Bridge, Chicago Bridge and Honeymoon Bridge. Contract Bridge is the most popular. Bridge is played with 4 players who will pair into partnerships. It is also played with a standard deck of 52 cards. 

Canasta, Spanish for basket, is a card game of the rummy family of games, a variant of 500 Rum. It is most commonly played by four seniors in two partnerships with two standard decks of cards. This game is easy to learn especially if they have played Bridge or Rummy. Players bring a snack to share with each other, enjoying fellowship and food.

Mah Jongg is a game of Chinese origin, usually played by four people, in which tiles bearing various designs are drawn and discarded until one player has an entire hand of winning combinations. The game room can hold at least 4 tables of 4 seniors. This room also serves as a free library.