For a growing number of people in New Glasgow, one community program is proving that wellness is about more than just exercise. Mindful Movement, run through West Side Health Centre, was designed to make movement more accessible while fostering social connection and practical learning.
Irene Limburg has been part of the program since the first session began last spring and didn’t hesitate to rejoin when it started again in the fall. “I enjoy coming out and meeting new people and learning a bunch of new things,” she said. “We do chair exercises, and then we have a dietitian that comes and teaches us new topics every week. At the beginning of the group, they ask us for different topic suggestions, so the topics change depending on who is in the group. And then we have a little mental health chat, which I find really helpful.”
The eight-week program is open to community members over the age of 50. The West Side Community Centre provides the space, and a collaborative team of health professionals, including the new wellness navigators from the One Door Chronic Disease Management Centre, lend their support.
Social worker Anna Galvin developed Mindful Movement after seeing how cost, mobility challenges, and lack of guidance kept people from being active. “A lot of the folks initially enrolled had never been to a group class before,” she said. “There was a lot of hesitation around trying something new, so we wanted to remove as many barriers as possible.”
Each session includes a gentle group exercise followed by discussions on nutrition and mental health. Dietitian Cheryl Ramsey tailors her topics to the group’s interests. “I always ask them what they’re curious about,” she said. “We’ve covered label reading, cooking on a budget, diabetes prevention, and general healthy eating.”
For many, the program’s biggest impact isn’t just fitness but the sense of belonging it creates. “Some of the people who attend this program would never go to something like this on their own,” Cheryl said. “But because they know someone from the clinic, they feel comfortable coming. And once they’re here, it opens up more doors for them.”
That connection was built into the program from the start. Funding from the Government of Nova Scotia’s Age-Friendly Communities Grant initially allowed organizers to offer a light snack after each session, giving people a chance to sit together and chat. Even after the funding ended, participants continued the tradition, staying after class to catch up. The grant was secured by the West Side Community Centre’s board of directors, who then partnered with Nova Scotia Health to develop the program. It also covered the cost of the exercise professional, which had a noticeable impact on participants’ strength and mobility. “We actually saw an improvement from week to week,” Cheryl said. “At the beginning, some people could only lift one leg during an exercise. By the end, they were lifting both.”
The success of the second session was due in large part to the efforts of Haley Kirby, primary care coordinator, who made personal outreach a priority. “Haley called every one of the participants to invite them back again and help identify any needs they had to get there, like setting up a transportation fund,” Anna said. “That was instrumental in getting people out to the program.”
The demand for the program continues to grow, with both new and returning participants eager for another session. “The reaction has been incredible,” said Cheryl.
Anna and Cheryl hope to keep the program running and possibly expand it to new locations while maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that makes it work. “This is about more than exercise,” said Anna. “It’s about helping people feel part of something, giving them a place to show up and be supported. That’s what makes the biggest difference.”
The Mindful Movement Program’s focus on healthy active living and social connection, mental wellness and barrier-free access to information aligns with the Community Health Plan for 2025-2029, recently launched by Nova Scotia’s community health boards.
Photo of (L-R) social worker Anna Galvin, Mindful Movement participant Irene Limburg and dietitian Cheryl Ramsey at a recent Mindful Movement session in New Glasgow.
