Creating Sustainable Peer Lead Activity Groups in Rural Latino Communities

Active and Alive! -ivo y Activo! Exercise is a vital component of both diabetes prevention and living well with diabetes. Along with diet, exercise is key to avoiding risk factors that lead to diabetes such as overweight/obesity. To this end, La Vida has developed a variety of regular, ongoing, exercise classes and activities “Active and Alive” that are peer lead and available at no cost to Latino communities in rural Southwest New Mexico.

This innovative program is cosponsored by La Vida, NMDOH, and Gila Regional Medical Center. Active & Alive overcomes such barriers to physical activity as lack of access to safe facilities, need for leadership and structure, and lack of social support and encouragement for exercising.

Since its beginning in 2005, over 1500 individuals have registered for Active and Alive classes. Classes take place at schools, community centers, parks, walking paths, churches, wellness and senior centers. Classes range from line dancing, water aerobics, Tai Chi, step aerobics, walking clubs, and senior strength training. The classes are open to all community members, and thus vary in the proportion of participants who have diabetes.

Our biggest challenge at present is supporting our volunteer instructors. We encourage you to look for resources to instruct inexperienced volunteer exercise instructors. Compensate them for travel expenses if you can, and always recognize their efforts in your publications and events. Seniors help seniors: Make sure exercise students know their teachers are donating their time and talents. Recognition lunches and certificates of appreciation are also important and well received.