Linda Hollier’s fitness classes support senior health at Lake Chelan Community Center

CHELAN — Linda Hollier, a physical therapist and longtime dance instructor, has become a key figure in senior fitness programming at the Lake Chelan Community Center, where her functional fitness classes focus on balance, strength and fall prevention for older adults.

Hollier’s classes began with one rented room and a handful of seniors. They now regularly fill multiple multipurpose rooms at the community center, drawing participants from communities including Orondo and McNeil Canyon. Demand has increased to the point that classes often have waitlists.

Hollier’s professional background includes physical therapy and dance, and her work has centered on helping older adults maintain mobility and reduce the risk of falls, a common cause of serious injury among seniors.

“One bad fall,” Hollier said, “can start ‘the beginning of the end’ for a senior.”

Her classes combine warm-ups, balance exercises, chair-based movements and agility training. The exercises are designed for participants in their 60s, 70s and 80s and are intended to build strength and confidence while remaining accessible.

Beyond physical activity, Hollier said the classes also provide important social benefits.

“I see friendships forming,” she said. “They linger after class. They get coffee. They check on each other. That’s healthy aging, too — community and socialization.”

Hollier charges $10 per class, a rate she said is intended to keep cost from becoming a barrier to participation. As demand grew, she expanded into additional rooms and identified grant funding from the Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation to help keep classes affordable. She also speaks with each new participant before their first class to help them feel comfortable.

According to Hollier, some participants attend at the encouragement of their doctor, while others are recovering from injury or participating as a preventive measure to maintain strength and independence.

Hollier said she is aware that some people hold misconceptions about the community center, but she has seen attitudes change once people visit and participate.

“The people who come here like it,” she said. “You just have to get them here.”

Hollier’s classes are currently held at the Lake Chelan Community Center, where the lobby provides space for participants to gather before and after sessions, something she said was not available at her previous location.

According to information provided by the community center, completion of the facility’s gymnasium and performance space is expected to provide additional room for classes, gatherings and programming, including senior fitness activities similar to Hollier’s. Center officials said the additional space would increase capacity for community use.

The Lake Chelan Community Center is raising funds to complete the gymnasium and performance space. According to the center, tax-deductible contributions can be made through its fundraising page at givebutter.com/lccc-donate or by contacting Executive Director Maribel Cruz at maribel@chelancommunity.org.