A Denton fitness facility recently was recognized for excellence in older adult wellness programs.

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Pictured recently at Seniors in Motion are: back row, from left, Jane Benskey of NuStep, Dieter Gaupp, Prentice Barnett, Jean Seward and Kay Goodman; front row, Valencia Johnson of NuStep, Robert Donsbach and Shaggy Meguro.

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Seniors in Motion Inc., located at 111 Industrial St., was named the winner of the 2010 NuStep Pinnacle Award last month, and two staff members will be traveling to Chicago in early November to accept the honor at the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging national conference.

According to a press release, NuStep Inc., which designs exercise and fitness equipment for all ages and levels of fitness, established the award 11 years ago to honor fitness programs that use creativity to provide services to address six dimensions of wellness — physical, social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and vocational.

Jean Seward, owner of Seniors in Motion, said the local business will receive a NuStep cross trainer machine. She and assistant program director Shigeaki “Shaggy” Meguro will be attending the Chicago conference.

Seward and Meguro submitted an in-depth report on programs offered by Seniors In Motion, and judges came to Denton to give the center an on-site evaluation.

Seniors in Motion is built on the philosophy of “fitness through exercise and wellness through education,” Seward said.

“We are there to empower people,” she said.

The goal of the facility is to help people age actively and successfully, with grace, agility and strength, Seward said.

“We can help seniors build confidence and strength,” she said, adding that classes also help build a sense of community.

“We knew that we could make people stronger and more flexible,” she said. “We didn’t realize the kinship that would grow out of it.

“A funny thing happened on the way to starting a fitness program: We built a neighborhood, a community. We got social.”

Seward, a physical therapist, said that students from the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University gain valuable practical experience by working with clients at Seniors in Motion.

The center also offers Parkinson’s and Caregivers Together, a support group that has been under the management of Seniors in Motion since 2003, along with other special programs.

For more information about Seniors in Motion, call 940-566-0279. For more information about the AAHSA conference visit, www.aahsaconference.org.

LES COCKRELL can be reached at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com.