2 minute read
Silver Strong
she had a hard time choosing. “I like them all,” she told me, citing how much the teachers work with the students during the classes. “I also like the way they tell you what body part the workout is good for.”
By increasing her understanding of how exercise is affecting her body, Toliver is able to tailor her fitness routine to her needs. So does the program help her live a healthier and happier life? “Oh heck yes,” she said with a chuckle. “You should have seen me when I first started walking after surgery.” The grimace that followed told me all that I needed to know about how strong she is and how far she has come. It’s not only recovery from injury that is aided by participation in SilverSneakers, but also improved health habits. For Juanita Foster, a 71-year-old BellSouth service evaluation department retiree, the classes have become a regular part of her fitness regimen. “I had been wanting to find an exercise program,” she said, so when she received a mailing from AETNA Health Insurance with information about the SilverSneakers program, she gave it a try. “I enjoy exercise, plus my doctor wanted me to lose a few pounds and stabilize my blood pressure.”
For more than two years now, Foster has been a regular at strength building and yoga classes at ADCD. Strength training is an important part of retaining agility and mobility, but she says that her favorite class would have to be yoga. “Yoga class is the only one I don’t watch the clock for,” she said with a laugh. To maintain a healthy and able physique, it is important to not only retain muscle strength, but also to remain flexible. Plenty of injuries can happen from being overly tight and tense, so a gentle stretching routine can do wonders for seniors who might otherwise remain mostly stationary.
“I keep moving,” said Esteen Fletcher, who at 81 has seen firsthand the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on seniors when she was a private duty nurse’s assistant and worked in a nursing home. “I like to move instead of so much
Park Place Senior Center 3150 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek, 30022
Contact instructor Judith Leet
770-751-9331 www.johnscreekga.gov
Park Place at Newtown Park
3125 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek, 30022
Contact instructor Cheryl Butler
770-364-1599 www.johnscreekga.gov
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church
3180 Peachtree Rd., NE
Atlanta, 30305
Contact instructor Lori Trachtenberg
678-575-5437 www.prumc.org
Peregrine’s Landing at Holcomb Bridge
680 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Norcross, 30071
Contact instructor Mary Lee
770-714-7462 www.peregrineseniorliving.com
Roswell Adult Aquatic Center
200 Dobbs Dr., Roswell, 30075
770-641-3950 www.roswellgov.com
Roswell Adult Recreation Center
830 Grimes Bridge Rd., Roswell, 30075
770-641-3950 www.roswellgov.com
Saint Philip Church
240 Candler Rd. SE, Atlanta, 30317
404-371-0749 www.saintphilip.org
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 535 Rucker Rd., Alpharetta, 30004
Contact instructor Carrie Nebrodi 770-689-9724, www.sta.org
Stone Mountain Senior Campus at REACH
6212 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain, 30083
Contact instructor Cynthia Phillips, 404-502-4166 www.reachcdc.com
Stone Mountain United Methodist Church
5312 W. Mountain St., Stone Mountain, 30083
Contact instructor
Ellen Mintzmyer 404-421-8476 www.stonemountainumc.org
The Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical Center
2665 N. Decatur Rd., #10, Decatur, 30033
404-501-2222 www.dekalbmedicalcenter.org
In addition to senior, community and medical centers, many area workout facilities and health clubs offer the SilverSneaker program. Visit their websites for details.
To find more locations near you, go to www.silversneakers. com and click on Find Fitness Locations.
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