Inside Recreation
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Inside Recreation
Jazzlyn Flores' Journey to the Maryland Senior Olympics
In this episode of Inside Recreation, host Carmen Berrios-Martinez speaks with County resident Jazzlyn Flores and Montgomery County Recreation Senior Programs Recreation Supervisor Stacy Sigler about Jazzlyn's journey to competing in the Maryland Senior Olympics for the first time.
Welcome to another episode of Inside Recreation, where we talk about all the great things happening here at Montgomery County Recreation. I'm your host, carmen Barrios-Martinez, and I'm so excited to talk about Maryland Senior Olympics. Today, specifically, we have an amazing story from one of our athletes, Jazlyn Flores, and so I'm so excited to have Jazlyn here with us today, as well as Stacey Sickler, who is supervisor on our senior teams and administers the Maryland Senior Olympics program. Guys, thanks for being here. Thank you for having us.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah, All right, Jazlyn let's get into this because your story is so inspiring. So you recently started to participate in Maryland Senior Olympics. Yeah, how the heck did you get involved in Senior Olympics?
Jazzlyn Flores:So we have to go back to director Robin Riley, who I've known. How am I saying? I won't say how long I've known a long time, yeah, and so I was looking at one of her feeds for social medias and she was posting the swimming event so it would be 2023. And I was like, wow, that that looks like something kind of interesting. I honestly had never heard of the Maryland Senior Olympics. I'm so sorry.
Stacy Sigler:But I had not.
Jazzlyn Flores:And so I was like, okay, so I looked into it and it was, sadly, right after I started looking into it I had my first major surgery that year and then got into training and everything. Then had to have another surgery. About a month before the event. I contacted Stacey here and I'm like, look, you know I'm thinking about doing this, but I just had my second surgery. And she's like well, are you allowed to? So I'm like, yeah, yeah, I'm all cleared, I can get, I can come.
Jazzlyn Flores:She's like go for it, do it, don't worry about it. Just, she's like you're going to be so happy you did this, but if you don't do it, you're going to regret not doing it. And I'm like, yeah, she's like no, no, the people are really nice there. She was like all the competitors are really nice, and I must admit she was a hundred percent right and I'm so glad I did it. It was, it was just a lot of fun. I met a couple of people there that I didn't know, anybody, and there was this one gentleman who was also doing I think was his first also and so he's like OK, let's stick together. And so when it came time, we we cheered each other on and everything and it was. It was very nice experience.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :So what was it when you saw the post and you saw what? What was it that called your attention?
Jazzlyn Flores:So with my medical issues, I, every single doctor I go to, they're like you really need to start exercising. And part of my thing is that I, as I said before in another question, answer time was up until about a year ago I was a complete hermit and it wasn't because of COVID. I had practiced long before COVID started. I didn't really want to go out. My husband would ask me hey, let's go to the park or something. I'm like no, I'm good in my room, I'm good here.
Jazzlyn Flores:And when I saw Robin's post, as I I enjoy swimming because I did it as a kid, but also it's one of those sports that I can do without having too many issues the dry land and gravity, and I do not mix at all. But in the pool I'm a mermaid, you know. I'm very comfortable and you know, unless the pool has a lot of chlorine that day or something or something else, I'm usually OK, Even if I go for a half hour. You know, sometimes I can spend longer. But I decided let me get in the pool and try this and see what happens. And if it had been basketball no, If it had been even tennis or something else, or running, there's no way I would have even given it a second thought, because it was something that was in my lane, that I could handle with my medical issues.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :But that's a great part about recreation, right is that there's something for everyone. So, regardless of your age or your ability level, you can find the right activity for you. Stacey, remind us a little bit about what Maryland Senior Olympics is and why is Montgomery County Recreation talking about it Right.
Stacy Sigler:So to Jazlyn's point we try to have something for everybody. Montgomery County Recreation is the host agency for the Maryland Senior Olympics. Maryland Senior Olympics is for those 50 and older. You compete within your own five-year age group, so it's not really intimidating and we have over 30 sports. So we really do try to have something for everyone and we might even be thinking about adding more. So you know, we're always trying to keep people coming back, trying new things or sticking with what they're comfortable with. You know, sometimes it is what you used to do as a child, or what you did maybe before you started raising a family, and then you're just trying to get back to it for yourself. Maybe you've never done it before and this is an opportunity for you to come and see what you're made of.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :What are some of the types of activities that you guys have?
Stacy Sigler:Sure, we have team sports and we have an individual sports. So obviously we have swimming, which Jazlyn's speaking about, but we also have bocce, we have cornhole, we have basketball skills in addition to basketball teams, softball team, volleyball, we have bowling, you name it. I mean we really we offer quite a bit. We have athletes to try us out for the first time. You know, every year we get a whole bunch of new athletes and the whole idea is the athlete experience and get them coming back and maybe trying something different or, you know, just improving the one that they're they're competing in currently.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :It's competitive right, so not just within the state but nationally.
Stacy Sigler:Yes, it sure is. The Maryland Senior Olympics are part of the National Senior Games Association and so we feed that National Senior Games event. Every other year is a qualifying year. So right now we're in a non-qualifying year. We hold all of our events just like we would, and it's just maybe a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more fun, not quite as competitive. So a good opportunity to come give it a try, but there's no advancement, Whereas in an even year it's what we call a qualifying year to try to reach those national senior games which are taking place this summer in Des Moines. So they're going to be. We have 520 Maryland athletes headed off to Des Moines in a couple of weeks Wonderful yes.
Stacy Sigler:So we're really excited about that. And then next year they'll be trying to qualify for Tulsa. So yeah, it's kind of a revolving thing. And some people come every non-qualifying year because they don't really care about the national stuff, and that's completely fine, and then others, you know, come every year regardless.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :And the activities are not just in Montgomery County, right, they're all throughout the state of Maryland as the host agency. That's correct, they're statewide, they're statewide.
Stacy Sigler:We're in a lot of other counties as well. We're still grateful for Montgomery County facilities, obviously, and being able to hold them here with our excellent staff and facilities. But sometimes it's not possible and we go to other counties that can provide for us.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Got it. So, jaslyn, okay, so you decide that you're going to do this. So you see a post that Robin put up. You're like I could totally do this.
Jazzlyn Flores:Did you tell your family? What did they think? No, I didn't tell anybody, because one you know, once you tell someone you have a goal, then you're kind of committed to that goal or you look a little stupid, right?
Jazzlyn Flores:Not stupid silly, maybe I don't know. But so when my husband, when I would then ask, well, do you want to come with me? I would start saying yes. Or I'd say, honey, I'm going to go to the pool this morning. He's like OK, and so I started just timing myself in the water and seeing how fast I was going, I'm like all right, I'm not that far off.
Jazzlyn Flores:Some of the times from the year before that and this was before I knew that I needed the first surgery I was like, all right, I'm going to tell my family. So I don't know if I told my kids first or my husband first, I can't remember, but the reaction I got was like, yes, mom, go for it. Yeah, not, are you out of your mind? You haven't done anything. For what? 10 years? You haven't even gotten out of bed. You're going to try and do the Olympics. You haven't even gotten out of bed. You know you're going to try and do the Olympics. And of course, you're growing up in sports. As you were saying to somebody who had this a childhood sport, your goal was always like, oh, I do want to be an Olympian. And I was actually coached by an Olympian when I was when I was much younger, so that was in me for a long time and I was like, well, this is a senior Olympics, but I'm still counting it as an Olympics, it's.
Stacy Sigler:Olympics to me. I'm an Olympian.
Jazzlyn Flores:So that's what happened. So when I told my family, they just became so supportive. They told their friends they have some really close, the best friends and everyone was like you can do this, you can do this. Let me know what you need, we'll come and we'll come to the meet, we'll support you. And they did. I did all throughout the whole way, but I still didn't tell. Like outside the bubble I didn't. I didn't tell people because I was just like, but it was, it's so nice. So once I got with the fear factor of it, of you know saying yes, I am going to do this and whether I win or I, and we joked a lot about me coming in last place, so you're going to cheer my mom to be last place. And they're like no problem, just finish. And my husband was the same way. He's like don't disqualify, don't swim in the wrong lane, just make sure you touch the wall right. And then I did actually very well.
Stacy Sigler:I was going to say so how did you do?
Jazzlyn Flores:So I got two silver and I forgot to bring my medals. I had two silver. How well I did and it was very satisfying, very rewarding to to to feel like I accomplished something. I accomplished this goal. Yeah, that I set out to do and that's, that's why it really resonated with me and stayed with me.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :What advice would you give folks who are maybe listening now that go like oh, I would like to get back into something, or I didn't even know that existed.
Jazzlyn Flores:What would you tell them? It was funny because I was at the Needwood by the archery. I had taken a long path through a walk and I ended up by the archery and there was a senior gentleman there and I asked him oh, are you practicing for the Senior Olympics? Because I know they have archery.
Stacy Sigler:They do. Thank you what.
Jazzlyn Flores:Like oh, I'm not good enough. Like, wait a minute. I opened my phone up to the Senior Olympic page, got the information on what he needed you know what the qualifying is for archery and I explained to him. He's like I can do that. So I would say to anyone whatever you can do comfortably like for me it's swimming, if it's archery, for you if it's walking, if it's the cornhole, whatever it is that you might like and that you can focus as a goal and go with that.
Jazzlyn Flores:One of the things that when I was at the swim meet my biggest fear was actually the diving blocks, because I hadn't been on a diving block in, you know, 40, 50 years and they only give you a few minutes at the beginning to practice. So I practiced it with the gentleman I told you about before, and then one of the first events there was this 91 year old man who got up on the blocks and dove in and I'm like okay. But I thought, oh, I'm going to fall off, I'm going to lose my balance, I'm going to do a belly flop. And at that point I was like well, if the 90 year old man can do it, I can do it. And and that's what I want to say to anyone.
Jazzlyn Flores:You know the, the fear of. Don't let the fear of your failure or your skill level hold you back from doing something. And and and, knowing that you're going to do this and you can. You plan it out on a calendar or whatever. I have this number of weeks before my event and plan it out I. That's what I did. So I knew, okay, I had to be swimming x number of laps by this time, or something I think is the best thing to do. If my advice for someone is definitely, as Stacey said before, you'll regret not doing it more than you regret doing it.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Such good life advice in general right. I'm pretty sure I've used those lines with my kids. Senior Olympics is so different, though, in that it's so supportive, right. I've been to some of the events and it's really not about coming in first place. It is about camaraderie and trying something new. Trying something maybe hard, and there are people, like you said, of all ability levels there, right. I mean you've got centenarians, who are incredible. You've got folks in wheelchairs, right, and then you've got your younger seniors right, your 50-year-old.
Stacy Sigler:They're not accepting their senior yet, but yes, they're there Just to clarify I am a baby boomer. So I am a little older than I might look.
Jazzlyn Flores:I get that question a lot when I'm at the senior center. So like but you're not old enough to be that they want to ID you and I am, they do.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :They look at my ID, I'm like here you go the only time it's nice to be carded again, right? So, jazlyn, you don't just participate in Maryland Senior Olympics, you're a true Montgomery County Recreation participant. What is it about our programming that keeps you coming back?
Jazzlyn Flores:I had been away from Montgomery County Rec for a while. My kids grew up, they had gone to college, went away from home, so there was that kind of gap and I did once again. I didn't really. My only experience with seniors was the Holiday Center, because I used to go vote. That was our voting center. I remember my grandmother. My grandmother lived to be 106. She lived on her own at 99, over right by the White Oak Center, and she used to say the ride on bus is for old people. And that's kind of what I thought about the senior centers they're for old people and I'm not old, right, right. So but once again, going with you know, I want to get in better shape.
Jazzlyn Flores:With my disabilities. I have a lot of balance issues. He had some of the best music playing and there were people of all ages, all ages, some who do the exercises in the chair and some who get out of the chair and do the exercises as well. And then he has a balance mat and I'm like, wow, this is actually kind of fun, I did this. Wow, this is actually kind of fun, I did this. So I started looking at other things. So I've taken the not so challenging supposedly bike class. I wasn't too challenging. Jeremy also teaches a cardio drumming class, which is so cool. So just to try and explain you take a big laundry tub and then a big balance ball and put the ball on top of the laundry tub.
Jazzlyn Flores:And then he gives you drumsticks and you are then drumming on the big ball and once again he has great music. And I was like this is exercise, I'm having too much fun. So that's why I started. I'm you know, I don't want to say like a rec hopper, but I look at the program and say, okay, what might I be interested in? And then try and plot out what classes are where. And for me I don't mind if it's in White Oak, I'll go to White Oak. If it's at the one by Holy Cross, which I went there for the first time last month, I think I'll go there because they're offering another balance class there that I'm taking, and I went to the one in Burtonsville which is another woman's name, I can't remember her name Prazner.
Jazzlyn Flores:Prazner, yes, and the new downtown Silver Spring one. So I've been all over and they each have their own vibe and personality. So I'd say, if you do decide to go and you're like, oh, I don't think I fit in with this crowd, don't give up. Try a different location and see if you're able to Try a different location and see if you fit in with that crowd more.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah, every center is so unique and, like you said, it has its own little vibe. So, you know, if one center didn't feel right to you, there are, you know 30 other centers that you can look at. And you're right, our senior programming is designed for all those ability levels right. So you've got your very active seniors who you know.
Jazzlyn Flores:They have a Zumba class and they keep trying to get me into Zumba. The other, the other participants. They're also very nice. They're like, oh, you need to come on Monday to Zumba. I'm like, no, I don't need to come on Monday to Zumba.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :You'll be picking me off the floor. All right, we're going to get you into Zumba. Stacey, tell me a little bit about the variety of senior programming that the department offers.
Stacy Sigler:Well, as you said, for all levels. We offer a lot of exercise classes, obviously, from balance seated yoga, regular yoga, the Zumba's, of course, tai Chi. We have a lot of Tai Chi and some stretching. So we focus on all areas of exercise. In addition to that, we have a lot of educational programs, seminars, speakers, special events, special programs you know we highlight, like world elder abuse awareness day, and have functions for that. So we just try to bring a lot of a variety to people to to join the centers to participate in. If we don't have it, we're always willing to consider it. You know, you just have a chat with the center director and see what can be done. Of course, if it's somebody willing to volunteer their time to help us with it, you know why not? If we have the space, we'll definitely look into it. So we want the Jazlins of the world to keep coming back and to come try us for the first time. So keep it fresh.
Jazzlyn Flores:One of the things that we haven't mentioned that was a big consideration for me is a number of the senior classes are free and I don't think people realize that you know you can take a yoga class and don't need to pay to go to a gym. You can, and the gym, and the gym is also free now.
Stacy Sigler:We have the free membership.
Jazzlyn Flores:You can do the free membership at the gym. You can do the free membership. Now the pools are different, but the rec centers, so the. So the classes I've been talking about, the balance boom, the drumming, the other there's a bone builders I know is very popular. There's no fee for them. So that was a huge consideration for me on, you know, on a tight budget, as everyone else is knowing that, okay, I can take these classes and it's not costing me 90, a hundred dollars that it would, or more that it would cost on the outside and I don't know enough people are aware that there's so many classes that are available and the lectures that they offer and things that are available for free?
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah, no, that's a great point that you brought up. We try to make sure that these classes are, you know, available to everyone, and right and for our senior community, often the financial cost is the barrier to entry. So a lot of our programming is free, if not low cost, and then we have financial aid available that folks can qualify for and use if they needed to offset the cost of a class, and we have transportation available too.
Stacy Sigler:We do To most of our centers also Monday through Friday.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :So if you're not driving anymore, we will take you, we will get you there.
Jazzlyn Flores:There's really. No, you took away all the excuses, barriers that I had, yeah, you know of. Oh, you must go to every single session. No, you don't. You know if the teachers, if you tell, explain to the teacher in advance, I have some issues or I can't come every day, Most of them will cooperate with you. So, okay, that got taken away. The cost barrier got taken away. Well, now you're telling me the transportation issue also Because there's days I can't drive, yeah.
Jazzlyn Flores:So I think that's one of the things is why it got me in and got me in so much within a year. And got me in so much within a year Because a year ago you know it was it was, it was 2020, september 2023 was the first time I even thought about it. So now we're almost on two years, right, but I wasn't doing these classes, I was just swimming. I wasn't doing everything that I'm doing now.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :So how has your quality of life changed? As you know, you've gone from a hermit at home like you described yourself to this like unbelievably outgoing person.
Stacy Sigler:I mean, you're on a podcast, you're testifying in front of counsel right. Right right.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :That is not a hermit. So you've made a huge transition.
Jazzlyn Flores:I have made a huge transition and so I definitely want to stipulate that medical wise, I'm not much better, you know. Yeah, I've lost a lot of weight, so that's helped with my cholesterol and other things, but, but my main issues are still there. But, as I mentioned at the testimony, the rec center and all the different classes, it gives you hope to know that. You know it's different being miserable and disabled, which is what I pretty much was, versus happy and disabled and having that hope of like OK, I feel really crappy today, let me take some medication and see, can I? I'll just, I'll just go for I'll start crappy today. Let me take some medication. See, can I? I'll just, I'll just go for the, I'll start the class and if I don't like it, if I can't do it, I'll just leave.
Jazzlyn Flores:And if you leave early, they're like okay, come back next week. Not, why are you leaving early? There's no, there's, there's no judgment. It's a judgment free zone. Absolutely it really is, and they talk about that a lot, especially with you know, ok, don't go out and buy a lot of fitness gear. You know, a T-shirt and shorts or pants, whatever you have, they're not. They're not judging you on. Oh, you're not wearing the latest style and fashion. There's. There's no judgment there at all.
Stacy Sigler:And that's so.
Jazzlyn Flores:So that's a lot and I do. Now when my husband asks, you know, I'm going to go to the soccer field, you want to come? I now say I'll say 80 percent time I'll say, when it's hot like this, no, no, no, no. But I'll now go and he, but he packs a lawn chair for me and I can sit in the lawn chair where before I would not go.
Jazzlyn Flores:When my, my daughter recently got married and everyone was concerned about me walking down the aisle and not falling over um, the balance, classes and everything, and I also, I was also really concerned do I want to be in the wedding? I don't want. You know, I was so nervous about it. Um, having the classes and having being out with people in it. And I would say, um, my other daughter says that it's a, it's a safe third space is the term she uses and it is a safe space for me and it lets me okay, let me work on being able to walk from here to there so that I don't stumble and fall. And asking an instructor what's the best way, and they're like okay, you're walking the wrong way, put your heel down first. Okay, put my heel down first so that, on the quality of life has changed completely.
Jazzlyn Flores:Yes, I still have a sometimes like a week where I might be in the house a whole week. I'll never go out, I won't go shopping, I won't do anything. And then I always think, okay, tuesday's my next class, let's try and go for Tuesday. And if I don't make Tuesday, okay, wednesday, let's try. So I try and build more classes than I might be able to take, just so I can try and keep going. Don't give up. It's so easy to slide backwards and I know how easy it would be for me to be a hermit again and just give up, especially when you're in pain or you're not doing well or something, or the heat. So I think that's probably the biggest changes is so medically not so much, I was really hoping for more, but emotionally, spiritually, mindset has definitely improved a lot.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah Well, we're so proud of you and we're all rooting for you, thank you. And we'll be rooting for you again at Senior Olympics this year. Yes, I will be.
Jazzlyn Flores:I'm not going to go go to the. I qualified for nationals, uh-huh, but that was a bit much for me okay, baby steps, baby right she tried to convince me to go and I'm like no, I'm not ready for that yet.
Jazzlyn Flores:Okay, that's because that's really out of my comfort zone, that's not even in my home area, shell, but I am thinking about doing a different, different swimming event. Um, so, uh, I I tried it for the first time two weeks ago I think it was a week ago and I actually did all the laps. I was like okay. So then I timed myself and I looked at I'm like a minute slower than everybody else, but I'm like I don't care, can I, can I finish it without being disqualified? So you'll have to come and come to the swimming event and see, do I actually do this?
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :We'll be in the Jazlyn section bringing you on for sure, stacey, if someone is listening to this and they want to participate or volunteer because we need a lot of volunteers to make this happen how can they?
Stacy Sigler:get involved. Absolutely. You just reach out to us, Definitely through Montgomery County Recreation's website. You can get all of Maryland Senior Olympics information. They have their own website. Give us a call, send us an email. We're going to convince you to come join us to either participate because the motto is to participate is to win. It really is about doing it for yourself and your health and for whatever reasons you want to do it for yourself and then absolutely welcome volunteers to come out and cheer everybody on and help us with some of the workload. And definitely spectators I mean spectators are always welcome. It's a good way to kind of get an idea of what it's all about and decide if you want to do it for yourself or come volunteer. Absolutely, come see us and cheer everybody on.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah, I encourage everyone to head out as a spectator. Some of the most inspiring events that I have been to with recreation are Maryland Senior Olympic events. They are amazing and you get to meet great people like Jazlyn. Jazlyn, thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. Thank you for asking me. I hope.
Jazzlyn Flores:I really hope I inspire even one person to just say let me try something. Let me try either try a class at recreation or pick an event with Senior Olympics. If I have a very low bar, one person, if one person is motivated to try it, that means the world to me, that my story has helped someone to make that effort to do what I did and like get out more and get back into living life and not have life taking over you.
Carmen Berrios-Martinez :Yeah well, I think you're going to inspire a lot more than just one person. And, stacey, thank you so much for all you do for Maryland Senior Olympics and for the department, and thank you, guys for joining us today. We'll see you back here next month for the next edition of Inside Recreation.