Ageless Grace® is a cutting-edge brain and body fitness program based on neuroplasticity that activates all 5 functions of the brain and simultaneously addresses all 21 physical skills needed for lifelong optimal function. Class is conducted to music while seated in a chair. (You will be surprised by the scientific reasons for this.) ANYONE can benefit from Ageless Grace!

Carole McAfee has been a dancer all her life. While living in Clinton, SC, she owned a dance studio, teaching ballet and jazz. Currently, Carole takes NIA classes in Hendersonville.

 

We will be hiking distances of plus or minus four to twelve miles with elevation gains approximating (at the very most) as much as two thousand feet. However, we will be hiking at an intermediate pace, depending on the elevation changes, trail conditions, water crossings, etc. We will take time to stop along the trails to take in water falls, panoramic views, tranquil lakes and gurgling streams. Before beginning every hike we will allow time for stretching. We will allow ample time for lunch and will try to make our lunch stops at places with beautiful views. We will sometimes stop to identify various types of flora.

This course has been moved to WEDNESDAYS starting June 4 and ending June 25

Have you kayaked before, but want to gain some additional skills and confidence on the water? Want to get comfortable in a touring kayak with an enclosed cockpit? If so, then this class, on beautiful Lake Robinson in Greer, is for you. Session one will include a review of basic paddling technique, safety topics, and a class assessment. In subsequent classes, we will perfect your basic strokes and add some additional maneuvering skills to your toolbox as well as demonstrate and practice wet entry and team lifesaving. Our goal is to have you leave the class with added confidence in your ability to take your kayaking to the next level. Kayaks, lifejackets, and paddles will be provided. Class members should be comfortable in the water, able to swim 25 yards in a lifejacket, and be comfortable lifting 50 pounds (a kayak) over an uneven path from our staging area to the water. Fee: $35 (boat permit for month due at first class).

Want to get on the water in an exciting new way? Kayaking may be for you! All four sessions will be on beautiful Lake Robinson in Greer. Day one will concentrate on equipment, safety, fitting you to your kayak, and basic strokes with some in-water practice. In subsequent sessions, there will be more time on the water to allow you to perfect the basic strokes and gain confidence. There will also be demonstrations of more techniques to make your on-water time easier, safer, and more comfortable. Kayaks, lifejackets, and paddles will be provided. Class members should be comfortable in the water and able to lift 50 pounds (a kayak) over an uneven path from our staging area to the water. Fee: $35 (boat permit for month due at first class). **8:30 A.M. CLASS**

Before it gets too hot, lets get in a 4 mile hike at nearby Paris Mountain State Park for 4 Mondays in June. The goal is to get in a little exercise and finish up close to 11am, so we can beat the heat. The class is designed for intermediate hikers, already in good cardio shape, and for example, are able to easily walk a flat, 2-mile course in their neighborhood in under 1 hour (2/mph pace). We will meet in the parking lot across the street from the Paris Mountain State Park offices and bathhouse above the swimming area at Lake Placid. We will try a different route each week. Bring plenty of water and wear sturdy walking, running or hiking shoes. Participants should either have their own SC State Park 2025 Visitor Pass to enter the park or be prepared to pay the 1 day cost of admission which is $6 for adults younger than 65, or $3.75 for seniors age 65 & up. Please clear this physical activity with your doctor.

Jess Greer and Meir Peretz enjoy hiking in the Upstate area and will co-lead this class.

This group is for those who enjoy moderately challenging hikes but would prefer to take their time to enjoy the scenery and rest along the way. The hikes will be mostly intermediate hikes with 1-2 easy and 1-2 advanced. The target zone will be 4-8 miles with 300 - 1200 feet elevation changes (as measured from lowest to highest point on trail) but at a relaxed pace. Hikes will be chosen using All-Trails and/or South Carolina Hikes web apps based on distance, elevation change, and difficulty rating. Pace will be set by the speed of the slowest hiker and will include rest breaks after steep inclines as well as frequent photography and comfort stops. Downhill pace will be adjusted to allow hikers to avoid knee strain. Hiking locations will range from Pisgah National Forest in the North to Chattooga River in the south but will generally be within a 30-90 minute drive from Furman. Hikers should plan on starting from the trailhead 9:30 to 10:30 am and returning to the trailhead between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. This may require leaving the Herring Center parking lot as early as 8:30 am and returning as late as 5:30 pm. Every effort, except rushing the slower hikers, will be made to finish earlier but slow hiking does take longer.

T'ai Chi Chih (TCC) is not a martial art and differs from T'ai Chi Ch'uan. TCC is a moving meditation involving a series of 19 movements to activate, circulate, and balance the "chi", the vital force or life energy, which can improve health and well-being. Justin Stone, the originator of TCC, said it's not exercise yet it has the benefits of exercise as well as other benefits. Studies show that TCC has a positive effect similar to other therapies, such as aerobic exercise, dancing, resistance training, and stretching. TCC has proven to be effective for reducing stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and mood disturbances and has been endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation, the American Medical Association, and the Mayo Clinic as a treatment option for a variety of psychological and physiological conditions. In this introductory course, we'll look at the principles of moving in TCC and practice basic movements.

Steven Huskey is an accredited T'ai Chi Chih teacher. He has been practicing with a local class for over six years. In addition, he has studied with other experienced teachers across the US.

This is a summer walking class for people who want to stretch their legs but are not quite up to serious hiking. We will visit four relatively flat walkable areas with paved trails, such as Furman's Swan Lake Loop, Conestee Nature Preserve, portions of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and/or historic downtown Greenville. The walks will each be 3-4 miles taken at a relaxed pace. We'll start early before it gets too hot and try to get back to our cars by 11:00-11:30 (depending on whether we stop for a snack).