and 20-month-old can tire anyone
out, let alone their grandmother.
Schwartz, who takes care of them- a
couple of days per week, says she
needs to be in good shape to keep up
with the babies.
"Lifting them, getting them in and
out of the car seat — it requires a lot of
energy," she says. Schwartz, of Bloom-
field Hills, says she's always had a little
back trouble and gets relief by working

me that I would have this kind of
energy at this age, I wouldn't have
believed them," says Schiff, a short,
perky woman whose muscle tone
rivals Arnold Schwarzenegger. "I know
it's because of exercise." Schiff works
out seven hours per week and meets
with a personal trainer twice a week.
During a typical Thursday morning
at the Workout Co., all types of peo-
ple bend, flex and sway to the aerobic

And being committed to fitness does-
n't mean you have to join a club.
"Doing something is better than
doing nothing," she says. "Climb
stairs during the day or if you're stuck
at work, get up and down out of your
chair 10 times in a row."
Adds Schiff, "Fitness and exercise
are not about 'how am I going to look
next month?' but 'what am I going to
do tomorrow?'
Sandy Schwartz gives her cardiovas-
cular system a workout several times
per week on a treadmill and step
machine. But she attributes a lot of
her well-being to her club's fitness
director and personal trainer, Dana
Martin, with whom she meets three
'times per week. And although a per-
sonal trainer can be costly (the Oak-'
land Athletic Club charges about $35
per session or 10 sessions for $310),
Schwartz says it's worth it.
"She [the trainer] is right there,
monitoring all the time and making
sure I'm doing everything just right,"
says Schwartz, who's been a member
for 18 months. "I can see a difference,
especially in my endurance and stom-
ach abs."
Her grandchildren, too, reap the
benefits. Grandma says that even at
her grandchild's KinderMusic ses-
sion at the Birmingham Communi-
ty House, she gets down on the
floor with the young mothers. "I
keep right up," she says.
Martin notes that from the time
If you hear or read about the Recycled
a person reaches his or her mid-20s,
Teenagers and the Hot Flashes, don't get
the body starts deteriorating. Like a
confused. They're not the names of alter-
brand-new car that's leaving the
native rock groups, although their mem-
dealership, its value goes down from
bers may move and jump just as much.
the moment it's driven away. "Peo-
They are two of dozens of age 50 and
ple's bodies start going downhill by
over groups throughout the United
the time they're 25," says Martin,
States comprised of people who are
who is 30.
actively involved in sports and recre-
However, she says age shouldn't
ation.
stop anyone from getting or staying
Robb Rickman supervises Stanley Zeid--
For details about these groups, surf
ner's workouts.
in shape. "Look at Goldie Hawn.
the Internet at http://www.sportlink.corn
She's 51."
or call (561) 840-1151 in North Palm Beach, Fla., to order a directory. Sponsored
Or check out Dr. Milton Shiff-
by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the directory lists America's
man and his wife Lois. The West
most active senior citizen groups.
Bloomfield couple has been working
The Active &Ageless Resource Guide, a 200-page publication that contains more
with a personal trainer through the
than 1,000 listings of local groups in all 50 states, provides a description of groups,
Workout Co. for a year and they
addresses, telephone numbers and contact persons.
look wonderful. Dr. Shiffman, 68,
If you want a copy of the guide and don't have access to the Internet, send a
previously had been walking a great
check for $7 to SGMA's Active & Ageless Resource Guide, 200 Castlewood Dr.,
deal and had created a lot of lower
North Palm Beach, Fla. 33408-5696.
body strength, but needed to
--- Megan Swoyer
strengthen his upper body. Mrs.
Shiffman, 66, had been in an aero-

••• ■ •

Stanley Zeidner needed to lose weight
"and see my kids graduate."

out and making herself stronger.
"Regular exercise allows me to take
care of the kids without the pain."
Myrna Partrich and Dr. Barbara
Schiff know all about pain. Through
exercise, they've been avoiding it
most of their lives. Partrich, 52, and
Schiff, 53, own the Workout Co. in
Bloomfield Hills. Ideal examples of
50-somethings in great shape, the
studio operators have been develop-
ing a virtual universe of exercise and
health in the metro area since 1982.
Partrich, a former four-year member
of the President's Council for Physi-
cal Fitness and Sports, and Schiff, a
psychologist in Birmingham and an
expert on physical and mental
health issues, say they've never felt
better. And both design programs
that help to bring fitness into the
lives of everyone, including children
and seniors.
"Years ago, if someone had told

beat. The big, the small, the young
and the gray are here not so much to
fit into a smaller pants size, but simply
for their health.
Clients of all ages enjoy the basic,
low-impact aerobics class, and the
non-aerobic Muscle Madness class that
features free weights, stretch bands,
benches, poles and other items that
help tone bodies.
If you've never exercised, you
should heed the advice of Shel Levine,
a clinical exercise physiologist at the
Botsford Center for Health Improve-
ment in Novi. "Start slowly," he says.
"People tend to do too much too
soon, then they get hurt, soar and
they quit. "Above all, avoid the Her-
cules complex. Says Levine: "if you
don't think you can do something,
don't."
Partrich says those who are starting
a program should try to incorporate
movement into their everyday lives.

Fitness Clubs
On The Net

12/26
1997

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