Poor mental health and low levels of physical activity are two of the determinants of several chronic diseases.  The social isolation and lack of physical activity during Covid-19 has been detrimental to people’s mental and physical health.  To help mitigate these two issues, the Shelby County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent led a series of six weeks of “Stretching with Sheila.”  The morning stretches thru facebook live and recorded for later repetitions gave homebound people a chance to invite a familiar person into their home virtually to engage in physical activity together.  The average reach was over 200 people for each of these sessions with over 50 engagements for each session.

Comments shared by some of the participants included

“These morning stretches with Sheila encourage my exercising and help to energize me for the rest of the day.”   

“Thank you! Very helpful to get up and stretch. Also the human interaction is good for people that are staying in. I truly enjoy it.”