Getting fit for freee

 

Laverne and Shirley are my heroes.

 Oh, not the girls on the old TV show! I’m talking about Laverne Adams and Shirley Moorefield, two women in my Silver Sneakers class at the South Boston YMCA.

They take turns driving the 35 miles (45 minutes) from Brookneal to South Boston three times a week for Silver Sneakers and a water aerobics class before that.

“It keeps me going. The exercise keeps my back from hurting,” says Adams. “Another thing is the wonderful people. When you get to a certain age you have to remain active to keep your mind employed.”

The two cousins, who turn 81 this month, go through a mild routine of lifting light weights, making aerobics movements and stretching muscles, sometimes seated in chairs. In the background is the pop music from their younger years, such as “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” and “Solid As a Rock.” And they laugh as they play catch like kids with a plastic ball to improve their coordination and balance.

The group is led by Rona Collins, an enthusiastic teacher who shouts out encouragement as if they were a couple of generations younger. “Whoo! It’s happy Friday, everybody. You’ll leave here feeling great,” she says during the seated jumping jacks.

“Everybody’s sweating!” she shouts as we pretend to kick a soccer ball to the tune of Jingle Bells.

“Go on, you can do it,” we hear as we pretend our rubber straps are bows and arrows. “But if it hurts, don’t do it!”

Since Collins began in September the class has grown from about 15 to 25 per session, some drawn from the group she used to teach at the library.  Now it includes five or six men, including me on occasion. She remembers most people’s names and even passes out water to those who need it.

“This is more than about exercise,” Collins says. “It makes them feel good about themselves. And it is about fellowship and community.” 

At one session, a woman whose son had died thanked the others tearfully for sending her a sympathy card. Collins hugged her and comforted her after the class.

Remarkably, the program is free to those who are eligible! In fact, its members can use all of the facilities at the Y or join any of its classes. The costs are paid for by many Medicare Advantage plans and policies that supplement Medica

re coverage. The companies figure they save money if their insured are healthy. The Y gets people who wouldn’t normally come.

To find out if you are covered, simply go to the website, www.silversneakers.com. You only need your card, printed from the website, to enter the Y.