“For two hours, I felt a little freedom.” That’s how Sharon Twine described her first experience taking a St. Louis Oasis class.

After serving in the military and building a career that spanned child support enforcement and the American Red Cross—while also spending years caring for her mother and now helping support her 91-year-old father—Sharon’s life has long revolved around responsibility and taking care of others. She found herself needing a pause, a space to simply be. That’s when an invitation from her cousin led her to Oasis’ Matter of Balance class.

“I just knew I needed a break,” she said. “I really enjoyed my first day. I could feel the freedom and the relaxation.”

Building Community, Finding Herself

What Sharon found wasn’t just a class—it was a community. Surrounded by women of all ages and backgrounds, she realized she wasn’t alone.

“You realize there are other women just like me,” she shared. “The age groups are all different, but we’re all going through the same things. It doesn’t matter what age you are, either somebody has experienced it, or they are experiencing it, or they will experience it. We can all gain knowledge and learn from one another.”

From sit-to-stand exercises to heartfelt conversations, Sharon found a much-needed connection with the other class participants.

A Legacy Continued

Oasis isn’t new to Sharon’s family. Her late mother once volunteered in Oasis’ tutoring program—reading with children, handing out goodie bags, and nurturing a love of learning.

“I think mom would be very proud of me for getting into the organization,” Sharon said. “She really enjoyed it and now I see why she enjoyed it. It was probably an outlet for her too. She talked about it all the time.”

Now, decades later, Sharon is stepping into her own Oasis story—this time as a participant finding space for her own joy.

Sharon hopes to explore more of what Oasis offers—with a special interest in art and cooking-related sessions.

“I hope to get a little taste of all of it,” she stated. “I am going to be telling people about Oasis. I’m sure there are people just like me who want to help and need an outlet.”

Sharon’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to reclaim joy, pursue passions, and connect with others walking similar paths. And it all starts with showing up.

Find a class that speaks to you at stloasis.org/class