As I rode the elevator to the third floor today, another passenger asked me ‘What class are you here to enjoy today?’ What an interesting question, I thought, but of course I was there by choice so must be coming to something enjoyable!

Exiting the elevator, i was greeted by a group of smiling seniors  who had just completed the 10 am exercise class.  Walking down the hall, I passed seniors working out on the exercise machines and then met classmates waiting in the garden for our tai chi class to begin.

It was such a good feeling to see so many seniors feeling good about staying active & healthy, I needed to share the experience with you.  Thank you for providing such a lovely place for seniors to gather as well as well as such a rich program where we can enjoy moving!

Andrea Lash, October 2024

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As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude.

Sue’s Fall Prevention classes have been a game-changer for me. Her teaching style and the positive atmosphere she creates have truly made a significant impact on my physical and mental well-being. In a year marked by the challenges of the Covid pandemic, I found myself feeling isolated and down, spending too much time alone with my computer.

Feeling a bit desperate, I decided to explore what the Aquatic Park senior center had to offer, not expecting much. I had tried a ceramic class before but didn’t enjoy it much. However, Sue’s classes turned out to be a pleasant surprise. They provided the exercise, minimal social interaction, and daily routine that I needed. Her energy is contagious, and it’s clear that everyone enjoys her sessions. She embodies the qualities of a perfect teacher for this subject.

Sue, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. Your class has significantly improved the quality of my life. I hope you continue to stay healthy and find as much joy in teaching as I do in attending your classes.

Warm regards,

M.C. December 2023

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You are wonderful!!!! Yes, you are. You made my “adventure” into the Senior Center. all the way across town, into something that actually fulfilled my original intention. You were so pleasant, gracious, friendly, efficient and in such a lovely manner that I felt totally OK, safe and respected, which happens less and less these days. Hopefully “everything” will be fine with me next year this time and I will come and spend a few minutes in your “company” while you “re-register” me for another year.

Thank you for all you do.

KH. November 2023.

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Mis agradecimientos al programa de prevencion de caidas, dirijido por personas tan responsables y queridos con sus alumnos. Un abrazo muy grande para la directora y su ayudante y mis sentimientos de carino, igual para el doctor que dirije este programa.
-Ana Hidalgo

My thanks to the fall prevention program, led by people who are so responsible and dear to their students. A big hug for the director and her assistant and my feelings of affection, as well for the doctor who directs this program.

Ana Hidalgo. October 2023

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I am very grateful to the 30th Street Senior Center for allowing us to attend the fall prevention class. Mrs. Susan Sullivan is the most wonderful teach I have had in many years. She is beautiful, elegant, graceful, kind and patient.

Juan Manuel Londoño, October 2023

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If there has been one upside of the COVID pandemic, for me it has been that exercising at home has become much easier and much better. Even before the pandemic, I was looking for a little extra help with my fitness efforts. I belong to a gym, but it is miles away and visits once or twice a week was as much motivation as I could manage. In between sessions I’d fall apart and so was always looking for something to fill the gap – watching workout DVDs, etc., but nothing really worked very well.

But then COVID hit and the gym shut down completely. And the internet became a vital link to the outside world. Fortunately, several sites began posting guided workout sessions. (I’ll always be grateful to Planet Fitness for the “work-ins” they posted daily for several months!)

And then I heard about the Community Living Campaign’s “Always Active” program! A daily, live, guided class for active seniors like myself. Just right!

I gradually learned more about using Zoom, and chroma-keying (green screen) and so my living room location became a gym and anywhere else I could think of!

I never dreamed that technology would evolve so that in our humble homes we could do visual trickery that only major studios used to be able to do! and Always Active has given me the opportunity to have fun with all this! Yes, thanks to Always Active I have a new favorite hobby!

Mars… Mar-a-Lago… Golden Gate Park… the Taj Mahal… With electronic dance music playing along on a good sound system this became as much a party as a workout! Fun for me and I hope the other folks, too!

Always Active has become an important part of my life. It helps me stay physically fit, but it also provides a surprising amount of social contact – virtually – with its regular group of friendly participants and instructors.

Thank you, CLC and Always Active staff!

September 2023

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I have the highest regard and appreciation for Always Active personnel. On a scale 1-10, this program is a 12… it’s that wonderful to me. I love it. I have been involved for 8 years and it keeps getting better! The team is amazing. Everyone is kind, respectful, pushing themselves to improve. Its remarkable. Exercising with Always Active has become a major part of my life. I wake up excited in the morning. I have taken 3 classes per day when they were available. I am so impressed how you add classes, and languages. I am glad that I have a you found a way after SIP to make it happen.  I wanted to say thank you profoundly to everyone on the team. I just want you to know how highly vauled this is and that you are all doing a great job. It’s so interesting to me that all of the teachers are excellent, different from each other, and I enjoy them all. They are all exceptionally excellent. I find it amazing that all the styles are delightful and wonderful.

Karil D. September 2020

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I appreciate Always Active and hundreds of people do. Those virtual exercises are fantastic. If you don’t do something, you can just fade away.

Maryann A. September 2020

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I have nothing but the most positive reviews and gratitude for the Fall Prevention program. Susan’s teachings have made it so popular at 30th Street.” 

Gail K. September 2020

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I tell you the following story, to first,  tell you how much these morning exercises have helped me. Second, I tell you in an effort to gain your support to continue these ZOOM classes even after this awful lockdown is over.  These classes are SO VERY valuable to the well-being of myself and so many others. While in the Safeway parking lot, I decided to try to buy some rubbing alcohol.  They have it on the very bottom shelf.  There was so few there that I had to not only squat down, but I had to reach to the very back of the shelf.  It was so far back that I had to, while squatting, stretch to the very back of the ground level shelf.  With great effort I succeeded.  Then I rose up to my feet and walked to the check-out register. It was only then that I realized what I had accomplished.  I was amazed…I hadn’t even grunted during the entire effort.  My arthritic hip did not hobble me at all.  All thanks to the one hour ZOOM sessions.  Please keep them available after the lockdown is over.

Stephen P.  August 2020

The week of March 16 saw the cancellation of our lives as we had known them. My wife, Jane, has mid/late stage Alzheimer’s.  Our weeks used to be filled with zipping around San Francisco to attend groups, CCSF classes I can’t stop registering for, and coffee or lunch or even gentle walks with other caregiving dyads.  We had a full life, but my health had begun to fade.  Before the shelter -in-place, I was on hold for a heart monitor to investigate an annoying p-flunk in my heartbeat, my cholesterol numbers were just at the top of “time to worry now,” my ankles swelled at the end of each day, I was at least 40 pounds overweight, and I was miserable.  After the last doctor appointment and after getting on the wait list for a heart monitor, I made a big decision.  It was time to take care of my body the way it deserves to be taken care of.  The odds for caregiver health problems are not in their favor, right?

And then…the shelter-in-place.  I had started on a reasonable food plan and was finding it easy to follow, but I knew I had to exercise too.  I started with 10-minute intervals on a stationary bike, but I was struggling to keep the commitment.  A friend of ours mentioned Always Active and how it was being held on Zoom during this upending of our worlds.  After thinking about it for several weeks, I finally began attending on April 22.  I couldn’t physically make it through the first class, but I came back for the next session.  By the following week, I was able to last the entire hour. 

I don’t think I’ve missed a class since then, and I frequently tune into Tuesday and Thursday.  My muscles are remembering their strength and feeling happy, confident, un-miserable.  I’ve lost 29 pounds.  The endorphins are pumping joyfully through me.  My heart p-flunk is gone.  At the end of each class, I write a message, “Thank you SO much!”  And I mean it with all my being.  I’m not sure where I would be without the Always Active sessions.  It has definitely benefited my life on a daily basis and I am SO grateful to the staff and facilitators and giving nature of everyone showing up every day.  I’m now a lifelong member J

Joyce C.  July 2020

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I started going to Always Active as soon as it opened at St. Finn Barr Church in Sunnyside last year. Then, after about two months of shelter-in-place, I realized it would be a long time until senior activities would begin again, so I joined the Always Active program on zoom. Then I saw all the activities in the calendar so I can join something almost every day of the week. Besides Always Active, I now zoom onto Latin Dance, Memoir Writing, and Boomer Talks. I probably will join a few more activities later in July.

Thanks so much for keeping our minds and bodies active and healthy during this difficult time and helping to prevent the “pandemic blues.”

Bobbie K. July 2020

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I found out about 30 th Senior Center through a friend. It was a life saver both physically, mental as well as emotionally during these uncertain times. When I joined, all activities are conducted via Zoom. It turned out that we all appreciated it : the convenience of staying home, no travel time , plus contributing to less pollution and not catching any disease. I also realized that it has becoming unsafe to walk on the streets. Hopefully the latter is a temporary phenomenon.  

The classes are wonderful, adaptable to all levels of physical fitness. Both instructors and participants are very welcoming and encouraging. 30 th Street has given me a routine that I look forward to daily. The management is always improving and adding a diverse program to accommodate different interests of the community. 

Furthermore, I appreciate the prompt response when I call or email with a question or suggestion to improve the program. I’m very grateful to have such a wonderful Senior Center in my life. 

I.Y.  July 2020

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I very much appreciate the Zoom sessions. It is difficult, confined at home, as most seniors are, to be disciplined about setting aside time to exercise even though we all know its essential role in keeping us physically independent. So it helps to have specific times to be ready, and, especially, specific guidance so that if we follow the instructor – modifying if necessary as we go – we get a session to raise the heart rate and exercises to help strengthen muscle groups that control balance and help maintain flexibility.  All the instructors are engaging, clear, and helpful.  I thank you and all of them for the benefits they provide. As ever,

Gerald

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Under Susan’s leadership in the Fall Prevention program. first at the 30th Street center and now virtually, I’ve achieved a level of flexibility that I didn’t think possible.  A spinal condition limits my mobility but with Susan’s encouragement I am now able to do far more than might have been imagined two years ago.  She’s an amazingly patient teacher.

Bob D. (Fall Prevention) July 2020

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During this time of shelter in place, this on line community has been a lifesaver.Your phone calls and offers of help is most reassuring and welcomed.The many program’s offered by way of Zoom, made me excited to attend. The exercise, tech, memoir writing, yoga, corona chat, and many others, keeps my mind active and my body moving. Thank you so much for all your concern and care.                                                     

Brenda G.

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Many people have commented on the extra pounds they’ve gained during our sheltering in place.  Because of the Always active classes, I have not gained a pound.  I’m very busy exercising.  I’m hoping to build up enough strength to have the energy to try some of the other programs offered.  I feel so thankful for all the Zoom classes and for Jenny and Melissa, out beautiful hosts.

Susan E.

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I am glad I joined the exercise classes. It helped my scoliosis. I need to exercise. It motivates me to exercise. It’s boring to exercise alone just following in the u tube. Because there are other people that I know. So it is always fun. It helps our boredom at home. It helps us also keep our muscles and bone stronger. Before I join this exercise, whenever I walk it feels my legs were weak. Now after several weeks exercising, I can feel the difference. I have stronger legs and can walk steady. I have to wake up early whenever I have exercise. I always look forward to this days that there is exercise class.

Elmira L.

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Thank you so much, you’ve put Adventure into my life I look forward  To all activities That you offer. It is so appreciated. As a senior I  Sincerely feel that you care and are watching out for us. Even through this   terrible pandemic you have somehow manage to check on us. You’ve made it easier for us to deal with technology as far as all your different activities as We Learn to use Zoom. Making  me feel all is well for you are there! We are not alone.

Eileen. May 2020.

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Testimonials in person classes

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I had knee replacement and I used to walk with a cane. When I came to 30th Street, I joined the exercise classes and now I am not using the cane. My strength and flexibility has improved, I feel taller when I walk, and people tell me I look younger!

Angela F. (67yrs)