Strong Bodies Strength Training Program

Community-based strength training for healthy aging.

What Is Strong Bodies?


Strong Bodies is a community-based low-impact strength training program for older adults. It was developed at Tufts University and is based on over 20 years of research on the benefits of strength training for healthy aging.

Watch the video to learn more about the program and see if there's an upcoming class in your area!

Find a Strong Bodies Class


Are you ready to join a class? See below for a Strong Bodies series in your area. If you do not see a series in your county — or if you are an agency or business that would like to host a Strong Bodies series — reach out to the Statewide Ambassador (contact information is listed at the bottom of the page) or your local county instructor from our Statewide Team.

  • Uintah County Extension office (Vernal, UT): Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 1 - November 19 from 8:30am-9:30am. Address: 328 E. 200 S., Vernal, UT 84078. Registration link coming soon! Contact Cara Murray for more information.
  • Davis County Extension Office (Kaysville, UT): Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 1 - November 19 from 10am-11:30am. Address: 80 E. 725 S., Kaysville, UT 84037. Free but pre-registration required by August 28th. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strong-bodies-strength-training-program-tickets-1994996341762
  • Saratoga Springs Community Room (Utah County): Wednesdays and Fridays October 9 - December 18 from 10am-11am. Address: 367 S. Saratoga Rd., Saratoga Springs, UT 84045. No cost,, but must pre-register by October 1st at https://saratogaspringsrec.com/current-programs
  • Golden Hours Senior Center (Weber County): On-going classes every Monday and Wednesday from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Address: 650 25th Street, Ogden. No cost, but registration is required by calling the senior center at 801-639-8864. Must be a member of the senior center to attend, but it's free to join.

Program Team


Strong Bodies
San Juan County
homeandcomm
4-H Youth
ryan benally
home and community
Directory
Extension
Ryan Benally

Ryan Benally

Extension Assistant Professor | Home and Community | 4-H & Youth | San Juan County

435-587-3239

ryan.benally@usu.edu

homeandcomm
Naomi Brower
nutritionteam
Family
Strong Bodies
Extension
relationships
Directory
home and community
extension inflation
marriage survival
Weber County
HOFF
relationship experts
expert
couple
Naomi Brower

Naomi Brower

Extension Professor | Couple and Family Relationships | Weber County Director

(801) 399-8206

naomi.brower@usu.edu

Extension
flood
Confidence
Stephanie Carlson
home and community
homeandcomm
nutritionteam
Weber County
physicalhealthteam
Strong Bodies
Directory
Stephanie Carlson

Stephanie Carlson

Extension Assistant Professor | Weber County

801-399-8203

stephanie.carlson@usu.edu

Extension
homeandcomm
home and community
Directory
Strong Bodies
Confidence
kate chappell
Wayne County
Kate Chappell

Kate Chappell

Extension Assistant Professor | Wayne County

435-836-1312

kate.chappell@usu.edu

expert
nutrition county
Cache County
Extension
home and community
homeandcomm
Strong Bodies
level-up
nutritionteam
Jenna Dyckman
Directory
healthwellness
Jenna Dyckman

Jenna Dyckman

Extension Associate Professor with Tenure | Cache County

435-752-6263

jenna.dyckman@usu.edu

Extension
Strong Bodies
homeandcomm
Millard County
Directory
home and community
Mary Anna Henke
Mary Anna Henke

Mary Anna Henke

Home & Community Program Coordinator and Create Better Health Ambassador | Millard County

435-864-1484

maryanna.henke@usu.edu

HEARTteam
home and community
Directory
nutritionteam
health and wellness
Uintah County
Extension
Cara Murray
communitywellness
homeandcomm
Strong Bodies
health equity
Professional Practice Assistant Professor
Cara Murray

Cara Murray

Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor | Health and Wellness | 4-H | Uintah County Director

435-781-5452

cara.murray@usu.edu

Strong Bodies
aware central
homeandcomm
healthwellness
heart
physicalhealthteam
expert
Extension
home and community
mentalhealthteam
nutritionteam
HEARTteam
health and wellness
Directory
nutrition county
Beaver County
aware staff
Cindy Nelson
Cindy Nelson

Cindy Nelson

Extension Professor | Health and Wellness | 4-H and Youth | Beaver County

435-438-6452

cindy.nelson@usu.edu

food preservation
Extension
physicalhealthteam
HOFF
nutritionteam
canning
HEARTteam
mentalhealthteam
Strong Bodies
home and community
aware northern
Emma Parkhurst
nutrition county
healthwellness
homeandcomm
aware staff
Davis County
Directory
health and wellness
expert
Emma Parkhurst

Emma Parkhurst

Professional Practice Extension Associate Professor | Health and Wellness | Davis County Director

(435) 919-1334

emma.parkhurst@usu.edu

homeandcomm
HEARTteam
nutrition county
nutritionteam
healthwellness
relationship experts
Christina Pay
Confidence
home and community
aware central
Strong Bodies
heart
physicalhealthteam
mentalhealthteam
Carbon County
e-cigarette prevention
Directory
Extension
aware staff
Christina Pay

Christina Pay

Extension Associate Professor | Family & Consumer Sciences | Carbon County

(435) 636-3236

christina.pay@usu.edu

home and community
nutritionteam
Duchesne County
Yvette Rea
health equity
HEARTteam
homeandcomm
Confidence
Directory
Extension
Strong Bodies
Yvette Rea

Yvette Rea

Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor | Duchesne County

435-738-1140

yvette.rea@usu.edu

home and community
Carol Springer
Piute County
Strong Bodies
homeandcomm
Extension
Directory
Carol Springer

Carol Springer

4-H & Family and Consumer Sciences Program Coordinator | Piute County

435-231-1455

carol.springer@usu.edu

maria velasco
Directory
home and community
CUBE
homeandcomm
create better health
Grand County
Strong Bodies
Extension
e-cigarette prevention
Maria Velasco

Maria Velasco

Extension Assistant Professor I Home and Community I Social Determinants of Health | CUBE Program Director

(435) 797-3025

maria.velascoburgos@usu.edu

homeandcomm
Alice Wadley
Strong Bodies
Emery County
home and community
Directory
Extension
Alice Wadley

Alice Wadley

Extension Instructor | Emery County

(435) 381-3535

alice.wadley@usu.edu

home and community
Taryn Wahlquist
Iron County
Directory
Extension
Strong Bodies
homeandcomm
Taryn Wahlquist

Taryn Wahlquist

Extension Assistant Professor | Iron County

435-586-8132

taryn.wahlquist@usu.edu

nutritionteam
home and community
agwellnessmentalhealthassistance
healthwellness
homeandcomm
Strong Bodies
Weber County
Extension
Confidence
Davis County
HEARTteam
Directory
Faculty
Sadie Wilde
heart
Sadie Wilde

Sadie Wilde

Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor | Health & Wellness | Davis & Weber County

435-919-1324

sadie.wilde@usu.edu

Statewide Ambassador Contact


If you have questions about Strong Bodies, are interested in hosting a series in your area, or would like your staff to become trained instructors, contact the statewide Ambassador, Gabi Murza, at Gabriela.Murza@usu.edu or 385-268-6543.

Directory
health equity
mentalhealthteam
homeandcomm
Gabriela Murza
healthwellness
aware staff
heart
Utah County
aware central
Extension
physicalhealthteam
HEARTteam
home and community
Gabriela Murza

Gabriela Murza

Professional Practice Extension Associate Professor | Health and Wellness | HEART Initiative | Utah County

(385)-268-6543

gabriela.murza@usu.edu