A Special Section For
Active Seniors 50 And Up

Seniors find that regular exercise turns back the clock.

RUTHAN BRODSKY

Special to the Jewish News

T

0

hree or four days a week, Milli Zivov works out at the
West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center Health
Club.

"I'm enrolled in step and sculp, basic back care class and body
awareness classes," says Zivov, a West Bloomfield senior. "I also
work with free weights and the resistance training machines. The
activities are well organized, there's so many choices and not only
am I meeting new people, I'm bumping into people I haven't seen
in years."
One in 26 baby boomers will make it to age 100. How we spend
those senior years depends partly on the choices we make.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle gives us a better chance for relatively
good health as we age. An increasing number of studies suggest
that physical and mental disability during aging are, most often,
the result of lifestyle choices than inherited limitations.
The JCC, a few private health clubs and exercise studios market
to this aging trend and invest in physical health programs for senior
populations.
The JCC offers a broad program due in large part to its role of
meeting the special needs of the Jewish community and to the
community demographics that surround both the West Bloomfield
and Oak Park facilities.
"A large number of members that use the health facility are sen-

iors, from ages 55 to 90," says Sue Miller, Health Club director at the JCC's
Jimmy Prentis Morris (JPM) Building in Oak Park. "To serve this population,
staff is trained and experienced in working with-older people.
"Moreover, we include resistance and exercise machines more easily managed by
seniors than some machines in a regular gym. Our new recumbent stepper is a
good example because a person operates this while sitting down with back sup-
port and it gives a good upper and lower body workout.
"We also have a number of aerobic conditioning classes in which seniors partic-
ipate, such as low-impact aerobics, tone, and yoga lite, which teaches relaxation
techniques. Our aqua step class is a favorite among seniors who use step benches
in shallow water for a good workout that's easy on the joints."
Other classes for people with limited range of motion include water aerobic
classes and a Pilates-mat science class that uses exercise to improve strength,
endurance, mobility and strength.

Aging Gracefully

The bad news is that aging is inevitable. The good news is that weight gain, high
blood pressure and chronic illness are not necessarily normal parts of aging. The
better news is that no one is too old to start taking steps toward living longer
healthfully.
Annette Daniels, Health Club director at the JCC's D. Dan and Betty Kahn
facility in West Bloomfield, says 80 percent of her membership is over 55. "Our
two indoor walking tracks are very popular," says Daniels. "We have members
lining up at 5:30 a.m. to begin their laps. Other members frequent the yoga class-
es which range from moderate to power yoga.
"The hydrotone program for toning and the wet gym for cardio and resistance
training are also favorites for seniors who have limited range of motion."

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