Seniors learn benefits of regular exercise

t's never too late in life to begin an exercise program, and many area seniors are reaping the benefits of better health and longevity.

Studies show that increased physical activity can help lengthen life expectancy and prevent disease. But most people don't stay with an exercise program long enough to see any health benefits.

That's not been the case for LaVerne Fiehler. In just a month's time Fiehler has already seen the benefits of her weekly exercise regimen.

Feihler's doctor told her she had high cholesterol and that she had to do something to reduce those dangerous levels.

So with permission from her doctor, she joined the PLUS aquatics class offered by the Senior Learning Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

Her cholesterol has dropped from 275 to less than 200.

"That makes me very happy," she said.

Having seen how much the exercise helps, she's not ready to give it up.

Exercise can bring added health benefits, regardless of age. And just 30 minutes a day can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

But 60 percent or less of the nation's population isn't actually doing enough exercise to get any health benefits, according to a May report from the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC report said that most people's activity isn't enough to have any health benefits, and physical activity decreases with age.

But several area senior citizens spend part of their day exercising, whether they're walking regularly, swimming or lifting weights at the gym.

Jane Greening, 68, teaches low-impact aerobics, yoga and Pilates, and a chair class where all the exercises are done either sitting in the chair or standing near it.

Greening said she always tried to stay active while raising her four children, but she didn't really start working out until they'd left home.

"I don't sit still very well," she said.

So when Greening has spare time, she can most often be found jogging or riding a bicycle. "I enjoy it; it's fun to me," she said.

And exercising helps her feel better. "It's good for your mental, physical and spiritual health," Greening said.

The classes she teaches tend to attract older adults who are looking to be healthier, she said. "They are independent people who do it to have a better quality of life."

Exercise classes, like PLUS aquatics, help the seniors see how much easier everyday tasks can be when they're stretching and building muscle, said Beth Mueller, program coordinator for the Senior Learning Program.

"It helps them stay mobile, and that makes them independent," she said.

Verna Vogel said the aquatics class is the last thing she'd want to give up if she has to relinquish any activities.

The workout begins with a 25-minute warm-up, doing curls with their arms, pulling them forward and pressing them back against the water in the pool at Parker gym. The exercises range from arm curls to endurance running across the width of the pool.

After the warm up, the class participants move closer to the pool deck, reaching for foam dumbbells to use in the water. They hold the dumbbells, one in each hand, raising and lowering them with arms bent at the elbow.

"These are practical because it helps you when you carry your suitcases as you travel," said Grace Hoover, as she completes another repetition.

"It's never too late to build muscle," Mueller replies.

Shirley Colyer of Thebes, Ill., said she couldn't do the exercises if it wasn't for the water. "It might sound like fun and games, but it's a real workout."

Participants use the resistance of the water to do some of the same exercises you'd see done on weight machines at the health club, except this exercise doesn't put as much strain in the joints.

"The water takes all the weight off the joints," Mueller said. "And the exercises work all the joints from the arms down to the legs."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126