Shortly before the start of the final class for instructor Marilyn Conner, a card was passed around the conference hall of the Red Lodge Senior Center for chair yoga participants to have the opportunity to sign and wish Conner a farewell. Conner has led the class since the beginning of the summer and is leaving the class to return to Florida for the season. Conner will be succeeded by long-time fitness instructor, Becky Tucker. Chair yoga is stretching and movement with the assistance of a chair for additional support. The class is designed to improve the balance and mobility of the community’s senior population while incorporating a social element. Although several changes are coming to the class, both instructors Tucker and Conner, have shared the goal of improving senior’s balance and mobility. Exiting instructor Conner states, “I try to get exercisers to move most of the joints and stretch to increase flexibility, mobility and balance.” Tucker will strive to continue Conner’s mission of improving balance and mobility in seniors and offers up how she plans to do this, “Being able to work on the two energy systems that I think are so important as we age are mobility and balance; and so that is where our focus is, is making sure that we’re trying to keep them from being injured and falling by having mobility and balance.” Tucker holds a degree in exercise and sports sciences and is entering the class with previous experience, having taught chair yoga in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Tucker is a professional personal trainer and health coach and has led fitness classes for thirty-six years. She has taught yoga for twenty-five years and was granted certification to teach senior classes and chair yoga while in Coeur d’Alene. Tucker plans on utilizing her teaching experience while providing a comfortable classroom setting and states, “I feel like I’m really good, with thirty-six years of being intuitive, with meeting people where they are.” She continues, “Even in this class I want to be able to provide options so that at the very base level people feel successful and feel good about it.” Aside from a change in instructors, the chair yoga class will undergo a few additional changes. Formerly held in the conference hall of the Senior Center Wednesdays and Fridays beginning at 11 a.m., the class will now be held in the Senior Center dining hall in order to provide more space for participants with class times Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. As we come into the winter months, balance and mobility will prove especially important when it comes to preventing slip and falls on icy sidewalks and steps. Chair yoga at the Red Lodge Senior Center gives seniors confidence in mobility, all the while creating an opportunity for area seniors to gather regularly and socialize.