Sip from the fountain of youth

March 31, 2018

If you’re not as nimble as you once were, don’t fear, the spring in your chicken hasn’t snapped, it’s just a little rusted.

Lots of senior-focused exercise programs are available — at little or no cost — to help older adults gain flexibility, balance and strength.

“It gives them better stamina and mobility,” said certified fitness instructor Debbie Gagnon during a water break at her functional fitness class at the Tiverton Senior Center.

“They’re not just here for bikini season,” she quipped.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m., the tables are pushed to the walls in the center’s community room and the bingo board sits idle when Gagnon teaches her class.

“I hope you’re sweating a little,” Gagnon said, raising her arms and stepping to the beat of Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen,” as the group of roughly 20 or so seniors followed her moves.

“It keeps you moving,” said Jane Benevides. “It gets you out of the house. I like the fact that this class can be modified for all ages and conditions.”

In Gagnon’s class, the age range runs from the 60s to the 80s.

Butch Arel has been working out with Gagnon for 13 years. He started the program a year after having open heart surgery.

“Even the doctors tell me to keep it up,” Arel said.

Wiley Crockett suffers from Parkinson’s Disease. He’s been in the class for six years.

“My doctor said it’s the only thing that keeps me walking,” Crockett said.

Gagnon has been teaching fitness for 43 years. One of her longest followers, Janet Frederick, 84, said she lost 80 pounds years back and now exercises to keep her “fake knees” going.

“It makes me get up in the morning, get dressed and get out of the house,” Frederick said.

Paulette Gagnon, not related to Debbie, said the class helps her to not “stiffen up, at least not too much. She’s helped me out with my back so many times.”

Besides being fit, the class offers a lot more than loose limbs.

“They socialize,” Gagnon said. “They’re not sitting home thinking about their problems.”

If exercise is the fountain of youth, then seniors can take a big sip with other local classes too, like tai chi offered by Serena Honeycutt at the Swansea Senior Center every Tuesday morning.

“It helps with balance, arthritis, stress, memory, blood pressure...,” Honeycutt said. “I love teaching seniors. They’re so inspiring.”

With the lights dimmed, about a dozen seniors followed the gentle flow, moving slowly and deliberately from one foot to another, their postures straight, and hands swaying.

“It helps with balance,” said student Linda Roy. “It helps put you in a different state of calmness.”

Gail Laberge said “balance” was a major benefit.

“You leave with so much more energy,” said Nancy Feeney, who has been taking the class with her husband John Feeney for the past couple of weeks.

“I like it,” John Feeney said. “When we leave here, we look too young to use our senior IDs.”

For Fran Ratcliffe, the class not only gives her physical benefits, but goes beyond the body.

“It helps you have a better day,” Ratfliffe said.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20180331/sip-from-fountain-of-youth