In our youth-obsessed culture, there is a lot of fear and anxiety about growing older.
Aging is a natural part of life, and it can be a time of great fulfillment, growth and joy.
The Pagosa Senior Center will be offering T’ai Chi Chih with accredited instructor Patti Popovich starting Jan. 4, 2024, and continuing each Thursday in the new year from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and longtime local practitioner Udgar Parsons will offer mindfulness-based meditation classes from 3 to 4 p.m. in the dining hall to support older adults who want to discover purpose and fulfillment in this transitional phase of life.
T’ai Chi Chih and mindfulness-based meditation are not martial arts, but rather tools for self-healing. Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in these practices.
For tai chi, it will include 19 easy-to-learn movements and one pose designed to stimulate, circulate and balance the vital energy, or universal life force, referred to as “Qi,” which is inherent in all of us.
T’ai Chi Chih is often thought of as a moving meditation because of the calming effect on the mind and emotions, and the release of tension throughout the body. All classes will be free for older adults (age 60 and better) and will last approximately one hour in the dining hall.
No special clothing or equipment is required for either class. We welcome and invite you to join us on your journey. We are here to support you and the community on our collective healing journey.
For more information, contact rosa@psseniors.org or call (970) 264-2167.
Senior conversations
Join us Mondays at 1:15 p.m. for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn.
He will lead the group through mindfulness exercises and discussion of various topics pertaining to aging in Archuleta County. Explore and discover for yourself answers to your questions and concerns.
The meeting will be held in the Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Healthy aging and yoga therapy class series
Gather with local yoga practitioner AJ Connors for a series of evidence-based healthy aging and yoga therapy classes at the Senior Center geared for adults and older adults of all ages.
This yoga series promotes healthy aging for individuals with therapeutic classes offering yoga tools and education for strength, resilience and wellness.
Classes are designed to address different aspects of healthy aging and are geared toward accessibility and gentle practice. The themes for the class will include physical and mental well-being utilizing movement, meditation and breathing practices.
Mats and chairs will be provided; it’s optional to bring a blanket, and please wear comfortable clothing.
The class is offered Mondays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the dining hall.
Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Senior Center.
It meets each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to be creative, share ideas, connect with friends, learn new techniques, share supplies and indulge in a potluck lunch together.
Bring your scrapbooking projects — or any crafting project that you may want to work on with the group. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive notifications each month of the upcoming meeting along with handy tips and tricks for scrapbooking, please send your request to copenhavercreative@gmail.com.
Share lunch Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays at the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is open to all. Pickup is available all week, including Fridays.
Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you all with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older we request a suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 charge for guests under the age of 60.
Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit/dessert, garden salad plus beverage. Some popular menu items include Frito chili pie, pork tenderloin with harvest chutney, Singaporean pork ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Hawaiian shrimp with coconut rice and always a beautiful green salad. Many of our items are locally sourced and organic.
Our chef works with a team of local food professionals to hand-prepare your meal for dine-in service in our cozy dining room (with an amazing view of the San Juans) or for takeout (via our convenient drive-through). Our menu changes daily.
To reserve your meal for the day, please make your reservation via text or phone call to (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m. weekdays.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, Dec. 28 — Vegetable lasagna with white sauce, broccolini, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit, milk and chocolate cake.
Friday, Dec. 29 — Pork tonkatsu ramen bowl with boiled egg, peas, scallions; garden salad; fruit; milk; and fortune cookies.
Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 — Closed for New Year’s.
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 — Closed for the New Year’s holiday.
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 — Teriyaki beef with sauteed peppers, coconut rice, sauteed snap peas, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Thursday,Jan. 4, 2024 — Vegetable lasagna with white sauce, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 — Chipotle lime tilapia, jasmine rice, sauteed kale, garden salad, fruit, milk and cookies.
Grab-N-Go meals
Dine-in and Grab-N-Go meal reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $10 helps to sustain our program. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
Meals on Wheels
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. Call or text us at (970) 264-2167.
Mobile food pantry service discontinued
The Mobile Food Pantry Service has been discontinued due to funding shortages. Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the MET to schedule a ride with its paratransit service. For more information, contact Lavonne at (970) 264-2250.
Text reservations
Don’t forget that we offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. Text us at (970) 264-2167. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are canceling a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel.
Texting services are available for dine-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals and Meals on Wheels recipients.
COVID-19 test kits available
Stop by the Senior Center to pick up a pack of six free COVID-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public who needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.
Mahjong
Mahjong is a 19th century Chinese tile-based game that is commonly played with four players. Each player receives 13 tiles with a goal to make matching sets and pairs (like poker). To win, a player must form four sets and one pair.
Come to the Senior Center to learn or play every Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.
Medicare call by appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging helps with parts A, B and D. They can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call the Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext 2.
Bridge
The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:15 p.m.
Bridge is a four-player card game with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. It is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. Come alone or bring a partner.
Hand and foot card game
Whether you are new to hand and foot or interested in learning, please join us most Thursdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center.
This card game involves four rounds of playing until the final round is reached — some two to three hours later. Plan to stay and meet some new friends or catch up with those you have missed over the last couple of years.
No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.
Supporting ASI
Please support our ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County.
You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or please visit our website, http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button). Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. For more information about Archuleta Seniors Inc., please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
There is also another way to donate.
Are you 70 and half years old or better? Do you have an IRA from which you need to take a distribution? Did you know you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA without paying taxes on the distribution, up to $100,000 per year? The donation from the account would be payable to Archuleta Seniors Inc. and sent to PO Box 344, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. This gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover or qualified charitable distribution.
