Old Town Hot Springs Balance Classes Grow to Serve Aging Routt County Residents

Steamboat Springs —Who is going to catch you when your legs give out?

Donna Way asked that question, implicitly, as she steadied a student who nearly tipped over in the back row of an exercise studio at Old Town Hot Springs. The room was warm, smelling faintly of mineral water and exertion. Way smiled, not with pity, but with recognition. “Whoa, I almost lost you in the back there,” she said, keeping her own balance while guiding the class through another round of one-legged stances.

The answer, for about 25 regulars in Steamboat Springs, is each other — and a lot of deliberate wobbling.

The Building Better Balance classes are not easy. They are strenuous, fun, and increasingly popular among Routt County’s aging population. Way, a certified senior fitness instructor with 20 years of experience, initiated the program after seeing its success as a fitness coordinator on the Front Range. Now, she and co-instructor Teresa Miller lead three weekly sessions — Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, that are consistently full.

“Much of our balance relies on strength, and unfortunately we lose a lot of our muscle mass as we age,” Way told the students during one recent session.

The classes tackle this loss head-on. Participants squat in chair pose, rocking from heels to toes. They walk a balance beam with hand weights. They lunge forward on one foot and jump back quickly, mimicking the reflex needed to avoid a snake. The goal is preemptive: building muscle strength and keeping joints mobile so that a fall doesn’t mean the end of independence.

Way helps students work on everything from ankle mobility to abdominal strength, even training them to push up after a possible fall. The 45-minute sessions improve power around the ankle, knee, and hip joints, drawing participants ranging from age 50 to 92. Some regulars power through the class with impressive agility, while others hold onto a wall or handrail, focusing on core stability.

“I just love working with older adults,” Way said. “They are a lot of fun, and you can see the improvement.”

The program draws moves from the national FallProof Balance and Mobility evidence-based program, developed by a kinesiology professor at California State University, Fullerton. It’s not just exercise; it’s functional training for life outside the studio.

“Much of what I like to do is just stuff so they can be active outside,” Way said.

The growth of the class reflects a broader shift in Routt County. Three years ago, Way taught one class with five students. Today, two instructors lead three classes that serve roughly 25 students each time. The community benefits as older adults stay strong, live independently, and remain active participants in local life rather than fading into the background.

Stand there long enough during a Thursday morning session, and you can see the camaraderie. It’s not just about avoiding falls. It’s about staying present, staying strong, and knowing that if you tip over, someone is there to help you up.