Naomi Pinales spent the last three years of her 59-year marriage serving as Sam Pinales' faithful caregiver through a slew of health problems that emerged after he was diagnosed with colon cancer.

When her husband died shortly before Thanksgiving in 2008, Pinales found that the depression leading to the holiday season was hard to shake.

"I didn't do much after my husband passed," the 82-year-old grandmother said. "My daughters were always telling me to get out of the house, but I didn't have much energy. I didn't want to leave the house. I didn't want to do anything."

In January, Pinales attended an open house event at the WellMed Senior Clinic at Ben White, where she heard about a new exercise class tailored for mature adults. She decided to give it a try. She's been attending the twice-weekly classes ever since.

"My daughters are happy that I'm out doing something, and I like it," Pinales said. "It gives me something to look forward to every week."

And the best part, she says, is that it's free.

Silver Life Fitness started under a different name in Corpus Christi in 2007 as an exercise program targeting older adults. Last year, it changed to the Silver Life brand. In January, it expanded to the Rio Grande Valley and Austin areas. In Central Texas, the growing program offers classes in four Austin locations, two in San Marcos and most recently, one in Pflugerville.

Silver Life Fitness is owned by WellMed Medical Management, the diversified health care company serving seniors in the Austin area through three primary care clinics and subsidiary health plan provider Physicians Health Choice. Kym Rapier, wife of WellMed Chairman and CEO Dr. George Rapier III, founded and developed Silver Life Fitness.

"Our main focus is to improve the general health and well being of the individual Ð to encourage socialization and to enhance their strength, balance and flexibility," said Rapier, who used to own and operate a gym in San Antonio that she helped convert into a WellMed-run senior activity center. "That's what the coordination of all these classes encompasses."

Silver Life Fitness is promoted as a benefit for members of Physicians Health Choice (PHC), the Medicare Advantage health plan now serving seniors in Austin. But the program does not require membership in PHC. Silver Life Fitness has no initiation fee or monthly membership fee.

Classes are designed with mature adults in mind. Instead of at a gym, classes are held in neighborhoods at facilities where older adults may visit, such as their medical clinic or apartment complex.

The company employs 22 instructors in all three markets, who teach a total of 55 weekly classes. Each 45-minute class is led by a trained instructor and may have different themes. Through May 2010, Silver Life Fitness has signed up 660 members in the Austin area.

Silver Life classes currently offered in Austin include "Pilates for Seniors" and "Zumba Gold," a senior-friendly variation on the popular Latin-inspired dance fitness craze. Most classes focus on cardio, strength training and conditioning. Workouts generally involve handheld weights, exercise bands and exercise balls. Some locations offer chair volleyball, where participants play volleyball from seated positions.

"Part of the reason we created Silver Life Fitness was to create a fitness incentive that had a greater impact on seniors," Rapier said. "Other health plans offer gym memberships or exercise classes at gyms, but some people are intimidated by that environment. This is a more personalized service, where instructors follow up with members."

For 61-year-old Arthur Harris, the classes are a blessing. He was hurt on the job in February 2006, rupturing his intestines after he fell nearly 10 feet. His insurance initially paid for physical therapy, but the coverage ran out.

Harris' primary care physician, Dr. Josef Holme of WellMed at Ben White, suggested he take advantage of the Silver Life Fitness classes offered twice weekly in the same building as the clinic.

"By coming here, I get a second chance to get on my feet," Harris said shortly before class started. "It's great to give a person something to do Ð something to challenge myself with."

At the WellMed Senior Clinic at Midtown, Silver Life Fitness has added a treadmill and will be adding a recumbent bicycle to its workout room at the request of Dr. Peter Nutson, who said patients involved in the exercise classes have shed pounds while gaining mobility and energy. "I'm telling all my patients about it," Nutson said. "I want them to participate in Silver Life Fitness because the classes will help them get healthier."

Some Silver Life Fitness members have been able to reduce or eliminate prescription medication used to combat high cholesterol thanks to the increased workout regimen.

It all fits in with the goal of WellMed to change the face of health care delivery for seniors. "Our message at Silver Life Fitness is that it's never too late in life to get moving, to get active and to get fit," Rapier said. "This is one way we can give back to the community. I'm excited to see Silver Life continue to grow."

Call 1-866-658-3496 for more information.