Atria on Roslyn Harbor residents ready to row for records

Amelia Camurati
An Atria on Roslyn Harbor resident works with Vinny Houston on the indoor water rowing machines Tuesday. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

Residents from across the Atria Senior Living system gathered at the Roslyn Harbor location to meet and compete in indoor rowing.

More than 25 Atria on Roslyn Harbor, Atria Tanglewood and Atria Lynbrook residents spent Tuesday afternoon sharing four indoor water rowing machines in the Queen Mary Room and competing for the fastest time in their age groups.

Atria Senior Living residents competed against each other in the 500-meter rowing competition Tuesday. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

Atria Division Engage Life Innovation Director Becky Gallucci began the Atria indoor rowing program with Paul-Stephen Varszegi, executive director of national program services for U.S. Veterans’ Rowing and Kayaking Foundation, in March 2016 at the Darien, Connecticut, location and in the past two years, it has spread to Long Island and Westchester with more than 100 team members.

Earlier in the day, a similar practice was held at Atria East Northport with Atria Hertlin Place and Atria South Setauket residents.

“We wanted everyone to see each other,” Gallucci said. “They sit in their own community and don’t understand they’re one of a 75-member team on Long Island.”

Gallucci said Long Islanders make up the bulk of the team, and the Atria on Roslyn Harbor residents have responded so strongly that a former multipurpose room has become the dedicated indoor rowing room, Senior Engage Life Director Meagan Devine-Collazo said.

“The residents feel like it’s a good workout yet it’s gentle for them,” Devine-Collazo said. “They seem very enthusiastic. They’re coming back and want to sign up constantly. I’ve seen them come together as a team, especially people who may not chat with one another usually.”

An Atria on Roslyn Harbor resident competes in the 500 meter rowing. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

Atria Senior Living is the only senior living community that offers an indoor rowing program, Gallucci said.

Since the program began, 100 resident rowers have set a combined 25 World and American Indoor Water Rowing records, ranging from 78 to 103 years old.

In September, the team will have a chance to participate in international and national competitions and potentially break records. During the practice on Tuesday, one resident, John, finished the 500-meter row in 2:38.

“A lifelong commitment to staying physically and mentally active is the hallmark of aging well,” Gallucci said. “These older adults have taken a serious approach to living longer by challenging themselves physically and trying new things. Our residents are examples and inspirations to others by demonstrating you can set and achieve goals at any age.”

Though the residents enjoy the indoor rowing, Gallucci said the group is looking to adventure outside with the residents during spring and summer but is in need of a Long Island rowing club with a stillwater barge.

The next step, Gallucci said, is to implement telerowing, which will allow residents to watch teammates at different Atria locations on a computer or television screen and compete against each other.

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