Good Health

Welcome To Our Wellness Journey!

By Cammy Dennis

What a delight it is to be able to share my passion for “active aging” with you and all of our Ocala’s Good Life readers.

I’ve been in the fitness industry for almost 30 years, the most recent of which I have spent as the fitness director for On Top of the World Communities. I took on the role of fitness director for On Top of the World 13 years ago when I was 44. The timing of this opportunity was perfect, both personally and professionally. It is exciting and rewarding to be immersed in the science of aging.

I have dedicated my focus and passion to helping people age optimally. Optimal aging affords us the physical capacity to stay engaged in life and participate in all the things we love to do. The early years of my career were spent in kids’ fitness. As a mother of four, I had my own laboratory at home to discover what motivated kids to move.

What I learned from children many years ago is now vital to my current role. Science aside, exercise should have elements of fun, excitement, and enjoyment. It should remind us of what it felt like to play. My early days at On Top of the World lead me to the realization that wellness was an encompassing philosophy that I needed to adopt. I think of wellness as the path that leads to optimal aging.

Wellness is a state of maintaining health in the body, brain, and spirit especially as the result of deliberate effort. In other words, our lifestyle—the choices we make every day—inevitably dictate our health and wellbeing.

Richard Arakawa is a regular in my spin class, a water aerobics enthusiast, practices Tai Chi, and strength trains routinely. “I look at it as preventative medicine,” he says. “I don’t have to take medication like many people I know. My exercise supports my ability to keep up with all the things I like to

The majority of my professional experience focused on physical fitness and the role exercise plays in health preservation. After many years in the active aging arena, my perspective of fitness has shifted dramatically. I now realize that physical fitness is just one piece of the “wellness pie.” As we age and contemplate wellness, it is very important to remember that the concept of chronological age is not nearly as important as biological age (the state of your health).

Diane Perworchik, 73, is a regular in aerobics and strength-training classes, works out with a personal trainer, and loves to get in the pool. “I feel better when I exercise! I have more energy and am ready to tackle the day. And the socialization in the fitness classes is fun. I’m in better shape now than I’ve been for most of my life!”

The greatest influence on biological age is lifestyle. People who exercise regularly and eat healthy are very likely to have a biological age that is lower than their chronological age. The reverse is true for those who are less active and have unhealthy diets. Chronological age is by default; biological age is by choice. It is never too late to get moving and engage in the dimensions of wellness. Nurture your physical, emotional, and social well-being to be a champion of active aging.

Please join me on this exciting journey in Ocala’s Good Life!

Cammy Dennis is the fitness director for On Top of the World communities. She lives the lifestyle she promotes and has trained for triathlons throughout the state, aerobics while living in Tokyo, and various weightlifting events.