Mesquite Rec Center Now Providing Brain-Stimulating Sessions

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The City of Mesquite Athletics & Leisure Services Department is now offering a variety “Adult Tech-time” and “Savvy Senior” classes. These classes are meant to provide a balance to the Department’s offerings, which are usually considered more athletic in nature.

“You come here to exercise your body,” said Department Director Nick Montoya of the City’s Rec Center facility. “And now you can come and exercise your mind with brain-stimulating classes.”

The first Class began last Thursday, March 4. Held in the Rec Center conference room, the class is instructed by the Department’s new hire Jairo Vallejo. This young man, a native to Mesquite, now has a communications and marketing degree and is well versed in the technology field. Vallejo is the Public Relations and Customer Service Representative for the Rec Center.

Vallejo’s enthusiastic presence in the classroom gave seniors in the class a boost of confidence that they may be able to learn how to navigate the technology of smart phones and other devices.

The first class was Technology & Social Media Startup. It was comprised of a lecture followed by question and answer session.

Next Thursday, on March 11, the format will be more hands-on. Class members are encouraged to bring phones, tablets and laptops to start learning.

This Senior Tech Time course is a four-class series. The classes are limited to 12 people. Class members must sign up at the Recreation Center. The next three Tech classes will be held March 11, 18 and 25. All are at 11 am.

The next upcoming scheduled class is the “Savvy Adult.” This Class will be taught by Erica Garrett RN and Director of Palliative Care for Mesa View Home Care and Hospice.

Garrett will teach monthly classes on a variety of topics. Beginning on Tuesday April 6, the subject will be “Living with a Chronic Illness.” On Tuesday May 4 the class will learn “Hands only CPR”. And on June 1, the subject will be “Back Safety.”

If these classes are well received by local seniors, there will be more classes added each month on various topics, Montoya said.

For more information on classes offered at at the Rec Center visit www.mesquitenv.gov or www.facebook.com/mesquitenvrecreation.