What My Fitness ‘Club’ Does for Me
How local people benefit from companionship in their exercise routine
Arriving at class
(l-r) are Marilyn Fahler, Corine Genovese, Suellen Blanton and Eleanor Gilbert.“Exercise keeps you physically, socially and emotionally healthy,” says geriatrician Brooks Betts, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “It helps protect your heart, control your blood sugar and keep your joints flexible—and it acts as an antidepressant, especially when you exercise with others.”
Here are some more benefits of the group approach to fitness:
Professional instruction — “Join an exercise class or gym and you’ll get a coach who knows your goals and can guide you on technique,” says Connie Fehr, instructor of the low-intensity Exercise for Life program at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.
Motivation — It’s harder to be lazy when an exercise buddy or instructor is expecting you (and having paid for the class is a good motivator, too!).
Companionship — You’ll enjoy catching up with old friends or meeting new ones.
Variety — There are plenty of options for your group workout, whether it’s a new DVD, walking route, style of class or
fitness machine at the gym. Keep it fresh by trying new options.
Comfort — No matter the weather, you and your group can exercise in a safe and comfortable environment.
Looking for an exercise group to join? There are two local opportunities coming up this spring. If you’re a beginning walker or runner, you can find a mentor through First Strides®. Participants meet weekly, hear guest speakers and progress at a comfortable pace.
If you’re into healthy competition, try walking with your neighbors in a friendly competition called Communities on the Move. Township teams compete to see who can complete the most miles. l
They found friendship
Marilyn Fahler, 72, of Cetronia joined Exercise for Life with two neighbors, Corine Genovese, 70, and Eleanor Gilbert, 72, “to maintain good health and have fun doing it.” They met Suellen Blanton, 50-something, of Macungie, who joined the class to maintain her 100-pound weight loss. The women clicked, and Blanton began hosting get-togethers. “We’re a close-knit group now,” Blanton says. “We look out for each other.”Blanton’s new friends motivated her to show up for class when she was tempted to “drink coffee and watch TV.” In fact, she enjoyed the class so much it inspired her to join a gym. As for Fahler, she “feels great”—she’s lost 10 pounds and has her blood sugar under good control.
She found variety
Doris Dornblaser, 75, of Allentown has done every kind of exercise from high school basketball and softball to hiking the Swiss Alps. Her challenge is to keep her workouts new and exciting—and she’s done it, with help from trainers like Jessica Gaal at the Human Performance Center, Allentown. “Every three months the instructors re-evaluate my routine and recommend new exercises,” she says. “Because I’ve had back problems, they aim to strengthen that area, too.”Dornblaser, a retired nurse and two-time cancer survivor, has stuck with her gym regimen three times a week for seven years. “It keeps me young,” she says.
He found a support system
Larry Losch, 60, of Emmaus has lived with multiple sclerosis for 22 years. He joined the Human Performance Center in Allentown to gain strength, flexibility and energy. The companionship he found turned out to be just as energizing.“I met many other people with MS,” he says. “We have similar experiences, so we can support each other.” He also found a “coach” there who specializes in training people with the disease. “He creates a program just for me,” Losch says. “Being active has kept me walking all these years.”
Want to Know More about either of these programs or about Vitality Plus fitness benefits? Call 610-402-CARE.
This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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