FITNESS

"Armchair"
has a different
meaning in
class.

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A thrice-a-week workout
benefits both body and mind for these JCC seniors.

LESLEY PEARL

Jewish News Intern

A

gnes Rayburn is living
proof life does not begin
at 40 — but instead
some years later.
The Westland resident has
been burning calories and
improving flexibility with
the Fitness For All program
(formerly the Super Senior
Workout) at the Jimmy
Prentis Morris Jewish
Community Center every
Monday, Wednesday and
Friday for six years.
Between exercise sessions,
Ms. Rayburn finds time and
energy to work as a compa-
nion for 90-year-old Anna
Tansman, also a partici-
pant in the class, and for her
recent marriage to a high-
school sweetheart.
Dressed for comfort in
cotton and polyester rather
than squeezing spandex, Ms.
Rayburn, Ms. Tansman and
more than 30 other senior
citizens stretch and shake to
the Village People and
Michael Jackson from 11 to
11:45 a.m. Although the
garb and the gear are not as

flashy or modern as what
may be found at some of
metro Detroit's more lush
workout arenas, the music
and the motivation are much
the same.
As people age, muscle-
strength, endurance, pos-
ture, agility, balance and
flexibility decrease, Jimmy
Prentis Morris director and
exercise instructor Irma
Starr said. Exercise helps
increase abilities in these
areas.

The workout begins with
simple stretches — par-
ticipants seated in folding
chairs — and conversations
are already starting about
gefilte fish and grand-
children, much to the
dismay of instructor Ada
Bandalene.
"Getting them to concen-
trate on the exercise and not
on each other is sometimes a
problem," Ms. Bandalene
said.
Ms. Bandalene and Ms.
Starr began the program six
years ago with the interests

Above:
Fred Eriebacher and Bess Ross take
a fast walk.

Left:
Fredel Davis pumps iron.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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