Chair dancing may be easy on the knees, but it's still a workout. "Just because it's on a chair doesn't mean you can't break a sweat," said Elizabeth Wukits, 65, who tried the class for the first time Thursday at Warm Hearth Village, where the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Caring for her granddaughter usually prevents Wukits from attending regularly, so she works out to step-aerobics videos at home and walks the village trails every day.

Instructors Carla Sleight and Mary Keffer use different videotapes of chair dancing exercises each class. Dancers begin with several minutes of warm-up stretching - shoulder rolls, body rotations, leg circles - all while seated on the edge of cushioned, armless metal chairs. Most tapes are geared toward senior citizens and include chair yoga and pilates, too. Classes incorporate weight-lifting as well as the usual aerobic leg lifts and arm bends.

"It would be difficult to use weights and stand up - I wouldn't want to be standing too long," said Muriel Jacobson, who turns 90 in a few weeks. She also walks the village's trails and began taking the chair dancing class when she moved to Warm Hearth three years ago.

"My coordination was good before, but now I'm certainly not losing it," she said. "What's so good about the class is that you feel better all over."

Jeanette Sylvester, 85, has been attending the biweekly class for five years and takes another exercise class four days a week. She said a recent bone density test showed improvement.

"I make myself do it. I like to get out every day, see people, chat a little bit and exercise, too," she said. She and other class members walk from their apartments to the Karr Activity Center for class.

Sleight does the workout along with the residents. She said that when residents tell her they are feeling bad, the first thing she asks is, "Have you exercised today?"

Wukits said exercise keeps her young and mentally and physically fit. "The ones who don't come out are the ones who are falling," she said.

Chair dancing videotapes may be ordered online at www.chairdancing.com, www.videofitness.com and www.video-hills.com.

Other news

and activities

The Blacksburg Senior Center has named Bob Blanton and the late Vernon Baldwin as Volunteers of the Year. Blanton has been a center volunteer for several years, served on the Senior Advisory Board and cooks monthly senior breakfasts. Baldwin also served on the board and was senior leader of the "News and Views" discussion group and golf program. The men will be recognized at the center's annual fall lasagna dinner.

Area senior centers will be closed Monday in observance of Independence Day. Call for more information.

The Pulaski Senior Center will offer health screenings at 10 a.m. July 8. For more information, call 994-8627.

The Blacksburg Senior Center Book Club will discuss "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown at its meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. July 8 in the senior social room. One-time registration fee. Call 961-1149.

Registration for Blacksburg Senior Center summer programs begins at 9:30 a.m. July 14. 961-1149.

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Area senior centers and volunteer programs offer a variety of services, including crafts, dinners, seminars, picnics and trips. Most have newsletters and calendars listing monthly services and happenings. Contact each center for information.

Blacksburg Senior Programs: Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive, Joy Herbert, 961-1134.

Christiansburg Senior Center: 1600 N. Franklin St., Tammy Caldwell, 382-2349.

Floyd RSVP: 323 Floyd Highway, PO Box 849, Judy Weitzenfeld, 745-2105.

Giles County Senior Center: 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, Faith Plummer, 921-3924.

Giles RSVP: 1410 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, 921-2037.

Montgomery County and Radford RSVP: Health and Human Services Building, 210 Pepper St., Christiansburg, Angela Little, 382-5775.

Pulaski County RSVP: 106 N. Washington Ave., Ava Stilwell, 980-3969.

Pulaski Senior Center: 106 N. Washington Ave., Barbara Tate, 994-8627.

Radford Senior Center: 200 George St., Audrey Caldwell, 731-5517.

Senior Shorts

Adult day care: At Virginia Tech, certified by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, 231-3161.

Bingo: Wednesdays, 10 a.m., community room, New River Valley Mall. Prizes are awarded; all games cost $2.

The Center for Rehabilitation and Development: Offers various types of physical, occupational and speech therapies that include aquatic therapy, balance retraining and rehabilitation for patients who have suffered a stroke or have osteoporosis, 961-1230.

Easy motions: Less strenuous exercise class. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. in multipurpose room 2A, Christiansburg Recreation Center. A doctor's note and registration are required, 382-2349. Fit Over 50: Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Senior Center offers several fitness programs, 961-1134.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge: Volunteer consumer-rights advocacy group that provides information about options available for funeral and other end-of-life arrangements, www.funerals.org/fcavbr, 953-5589.

Gospel Singing: Public invited monthly for gospel singing on the following schedule: first Sundays, 2 p.m. at Highland Ridge Nursing Home, Dublin; first Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, senior activities area; and first Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at Wheatland Retirement Center, Christiansburg. Musicians and singers welcome. Bench warmers and listeners, too. Call Mary Dotson, 382-8543.

Healthy Backs: Focus on regaining or maintaining muscular strength, flexibility, balance and a back free of pain and stiffness. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. at the Blacksburg Senior Center. Call Jocy Surface, 558-0759.

Intrepid USA Healthcare Services: Provides free in-home evaluations to determine whether an individual qualifies for professional home-care services such as home health aid, medical social workers and physical therapy - under Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, 961-5464 or (888)416-1428.

Meals on Wheels: Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, United Way and Radford Department of Welfare and Social Services, 731-2426.

National Association of Senior Friends: Seniors 50 and older may receive national and local benefits from membership in the Montgomery Regional Hospital Chapter. Contact Betty Jahn, 953-5291.

New River Fitness and Recreation Center: Senior Shape-up Class and individualized programs for seniors of all fitness levels and/or with various health conditions. Nonmembers receive free trial membership, 633-0859.

New River Valley Agency on Aging: Assistance with understanding Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. For information, call 639-9677 or 980-7720.

Senior aerobics: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7:30 a.m., multipurpose rooms 2A and 2B, Christiansburg Recreation Center. A doctor's note and registration are required, 382-2349.

Senior Support Services LLC provides customized companion care. Services include transportation, errands, laundry, light housekeeping, meals, grooming and bathing and other special needs. Call 731-1776 or visit www.senior-support-services.com.

Stretch for a Healthy Back: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:15 a.m., Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Senior Center, 961-1134.

Therapeutic Exercise and Community Health Center at Virginia Tech: Offers various programs, including aquatic exercise and fitness swimming, cardiac rehabilitation and health and fitness evaluations and consultations. Call 231-3487 or 231-7277.

Walk-a-roos/Senior walking club: Walk regularly and individually. Thursdays, 8 a.m. at Hardee's on U.S. 460, Christiansburg.

Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Project: second Tuesdays, 10 a.m. at the Blacksburg Senior Center; second Wednesdays, 10 a.m. at the Christiansburg Senior Center; second Mondays, 1 p.m. at the Radford Senior Center; Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment at the Pulaski Agency on Aging, 980-7720.

Viva Club: Offers health screenings, insurance assistance and physician referral, 731-2572.