How Dr. Laura, a Virginia Retiree, Uses GetSetUp to Stay Fit, Creative, and Balanced

Living near Washington, D.C., Dr. Laura, a retired public health nurse, didn’t expect her wellness journey to begin with watercolor, but that’s exactly what happened.

“It’s been a couple of years since I started GetSetUp, and I had retired and really wanted to get started with watercolor painting,” she shared. 

“Sure enough, Deana had a watercolor class for beginners, and it got me started on the journey of taking classes in my local area, and I continue going to her classes.”

Balancing caregiving duties for a family member can make it hard to attend classes in person. That’s where GetSetUp became a lifeline.

“I’m caretaking for a family member, and it’s not that easy to get out all the time,” she said. “Now we’re snowed in, and even if I wanted to go to the gym, I couldn’t. I just did an exercise class this morning with Twyla, and the access is super nice.”

Thanks to access through her health plan, she didn’t have to choose between caring for others and caring for herself. GetSetUp’s online classes helped her prioritize both.

Yoga, Cooking, and Community - From the Comfort of Home

As a former doctor of public health, Dr. Laura knows the importance of prevention and movement, but also how critical it is to make things manageable and accessible.

“I don’t have a gym membership, but I have exercised through GetSetUp,” she said. “It’s nice that it’s online, it’s easily accessible. What I really like about Twyla is that she's vegan but presents it in a welcoming, non-judgmental way. It's nice to identify with someone and feel comfortable with what they're sharing.”

She’s also enjoyed Twyla’s Instant Pot classes and says her approach aligns with her health goals. 

“We drink oat milk, and we have eggs on occasion as we are vegetarian, but we try predominantly to be animal product-free.”

The flexibility of scheduling on GetSetUp has made a huge difference, too: 

“I pretty much schedule on Sunday or Monday what classes I want to do for the week. I tried at the start of each month, but too often I’d have to reschedule when I scheduled that far out,” she laughed.

Learning New Skills and Gaining Confidence

While movement is a big part of Dr. Laura’s GetSetUp experience, so is learning new tech.

“I watched Guide Wade a couple of times and learned a bit about the Apple Watch,” she said. “The digital literacy classes reinforce what I know, and I always learn something new.”

As someone who spent her career helping others as a resource and referral point, she appreciates the Guides’ kindness and adaptability.

“The Guides have been wonderful and kind. Twyla’s always adapting classes to participants who want to do yoga in a chair or not on the floor. I feel the folks have been kind and generous and willing to step back and make sure everyone participating knows what’s going on.”

Why More People Should Know About GetSetUp

Despite how impactful it’s been for her own life, Dr. Laura’s surprised that more people don’t know about GetSetUp.

“I tell everyone about GetSetUp. I don’t know why more people don’t know about it. People ask, ‘Where did you take that class?’ and I say, ‘on GetSetUp!’”

With seasonal, creative offerings from her go-to art instructor, Guide Deana, adaptive yoga with Guide Twyla, and wellness classes designed around real-life needs, she says GetSetUp continues to grow in all the right directions.

“You guys have done a good job in creating new experiences,” she said. “And I use it a lot. I’m always looking for classes. I like the convenience of sessions online.”