Wellness for all ages close to home

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Dirigo Wellness Center is located at 33 Nash Street inside the RSU #10 Central Office building in Dixfield. Several high school students utilize the center directly after school, while senior citizens arrive in the mornings and parents and other citizens arrive during the evening hours. (Times photos by Cherri Crockett)

DIXFIELD- Are you of the older generation and are afraid to get out and walk during the icy winter months? Do you work all day and by the time you get home want to work out, but don’t have the equipment? Have you been thinking that you would like to join a gym, but can’t afford the monthly fee?

Look no further than the Dirigo Wellness Center. The center welcomes anyone from 11 years old with parental permission and supervision to the heartiest 80 year olds in town, to come work out and see all they have to offer.

“You’re going to know someone here,” stated Kevin Prevost, center supervisor. “Everyone knows everyone and they keep one another motivated to keep going. It’s a great place to be.” Prevost works at the center five hours a day, Monday through Friday.

The center opens by 6 a.m. during the week and closes at 7:30 p.m. If there’s school at RSU 10, then the doors of the center are open.

As for affordability, anyone in the River Valley community can join for a low monthly fee of just $25, you can save $10 per month by joining with your husband or wife for $35, and senior citizens can join for only $5 per month.

“It’s really affordable,” stated Prevost. “I see everyone in here. Typically, the seniors are here first thing in the morning, and there are usually, on average 10 or more, some sports teams come in here and train during their pre-seasons and then right after school we’re busy with students. Toward the later hours is when we have the parents and other adults coming in for spin club and Zumba.”

In fact, Prevost stated that the center is looking for volunteers to come to the center and teach any type of exercise on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“We were funded by grant money and now it’s by membership along with a couple 5K races we have planned. We can’t pay people to come in and teach class, but we would like to see community members who are willing to volunteer their time.”

Right now, members who enjoy spinning attend a spin club. They motivate one another, listen to music while they work out and keep things rolling by working together.

With a variety of free weights, three types of elliptical trainers, treadmills, cable machines, two types of bikes, stairmasters and much, much more, members will be able to get any kind of workout they desire.

If you’re looking to start getting into shape, want to socialize more with local people and utilize a full gym, then make a trip to the Dirigo Wellness Center and talk with Kevin to find out how you can join.