Bee Healthy

Arthritis Foundation helps ease pain with exercising

When it comes to arthritis, even simple exercises can help reduce pain and stiffness.

That's why the Arthritis Foundation is sponsoring exercise programs and tai chi classes around Western New York.

Offered in sessions of eight classes, the exercise programs and tai chi are designed to improve balance while gaining increased joint flexibility and range of motion and maintaining muscle strength.

Offered at two locations, tai chi classes will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays through March 8 at Slim and Tone, 55 Crosspoint Parkway, Getzville, and at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 p.m. Fridays through March 14 at Fitness 4 Women, 2106 George Urban Blvd., Depew.

The exercise program will also be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Slim and Tone.

The class syllabus uses modified stances that are gentle on the joints, especially for people with arthritis.

Participants are encouraged to bring a friend.

Classes are $24, and registration is required. Call Slim and Tone at 636-5300 or Fitness 4 Women at 684-3102 for more information.

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group opens doors to public

The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group is looking to help those dealing with the debilitating disease.

The next meeting will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Monday, March 3 at the Erie County Home, 11580 Walden Ave., Alden, with each additional meeting to be held on the first Monday of each month.

Professionals in the field will share information regarding the disease and hold discussions on dealing with the disease, new research being done, exercises to help ease pain and local advocacy.

A service of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies, the support group is open to the public.

The WNYIL is the area's largest cross-disability, consumer directed, nonresidential organization for persons suffering from disabilities.

Individuals of all ages learn to exercise their freedom of choice to take control of their own lives in order to live more productively in, and contribute to, the community.

For more information on attending the meeting, call Maureen Wells at 836-0822, ext. 105, or Dave Edgerton at ext. 109.

Transplant Support Group holds monthly meeting

Recipients of transplants should know that the Transplant Support Group of Western New York is available for those who need help.

The group will hold its monthly meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 at the Cleveland Heights Christian Church hall, 4774 Union Road, Cheektowaga.

The guest speaker at the event will be Melissa Danek, clinical pharmacy coordinator at Kaleida Health, inside Buffalo General Hospital.

She will speak on generic drugs and what transplant patients need to know about them.

The Transplant Support Group meetings, which are free of charge, are held on the third Tuesday of every month.

For more information, contact Mike Martino at 685-4799. The support group is also available on-line at www.tsgwny. org.