Gina Casanova, Peter Kirk Community Center’s EnhanceFitness Instructor, was awarded the 2018 Washington Instructor of the Year Award last month from Sound Generations and EnhanceFitness.

Casanova celebrated the award, given to her “for going above and beyond the call of teaching,” with her students at the community center on July 23.

The EnhanceFitness program is a unique, comprehensive program developed by Seattle-based Senior Services, in partnership with the University of Washington and Group Health Cooperative. This program is safe for adults ages 50 and up with a wide range of physical abilities.

This low-cost, evidence-based exercise and fall prevention program helps older adults at all levels of fitness become more active, energized and empowered to sustain independent lives, according to the EnhanceFitness website.

A certified instructor with special training in bringing out the physical best from older adults leads the class, which involves a five-minute warm-up, a 20-minute aerobics workout, a five-minute cool-down, a 20-minute strength training workout and a 10-minute stretching workout.

The hour-long class focuses on dynamic cardiovascular exercise, strength training, balance and flexibility, and provides many opportunities for participants to make new friends and acquaintances.

For more information about programs at the Peter Kirk Community Center, visit www.kirklandparks.net or call 425-587-3360.