wellness
Senior fitness programs offered free by local council
Billings Parks and Recreation has expanded its no-cost group exercise sessions for residents 60 and older across two city sites this summer.
How we reported this
Billings Parks and Recreation opened registration this week for free senior fitness classes that meet three mornings a week at two city facilities. The sessions include chair yoga, low-impact walking circuits and balance drills, with no enrollment fee or equipment cost to participants.
Yellowstone County’s share of residents over 65 has grown 12 percent since 2020, and local health data show higher rates of falls and mobility loss among that group compared with state averages. City officials say the free programs address both issues by offering regular supervised movement without requiring gym memberships that often run $40 or more per month at private studios along Grand Avenue.
Two sites now hosting classes
Classes run at the Heights Community Center on 6th Avenue North every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m., and at the West End Recreation Center on 24th Street West on the same schedule at 10:30 a.m. Each location provides indoor space with mats and resistance bands supplied by the department. The Heights site also hosts a Thursday evening stretch session starting at 6 p.m. for those who prefer cooler hours.
Attendance records from last year’s pilot at the West End center showed 48 unique seniors completing at least eight sessions between June and August. City staff tracked an average 18 percent improvement in timed up-and-go scores among repeat participants. This summer the department added the Heights location to reach residents east of the railroad tracks who previously had to travel across town.
How to join this month
Residents can sign up at either center or by calling the Parks and Recreation main office at 406-657-8371 before the next session begins. Walk-ins are accepted on the first day, but staff recommend arriving 15 minutes early to complete a brief health questionnaire. No physician referral is required for these general fitness groups, though participants are encouraged to check with their own doctor before starting any new routine. Schedules and updates are posted on the city website under the senior programs tab.