“I’m not saying anything we don’t all know, that we haven’t all read,” Gary Bernstein said moments before a 10 a.m. Senior Fit class was to begin. “But we have to keep moving.”
At the Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston, where Bernstein is CEO, you can find people of all ages working to improve their physical fitness.
Even as Bernstein chatted with a reporter on a recent Monday morning, a group of preschoolers strolled past, hand in hand with their teachers, getting a little exercise themselves.
Meanwhile, in a large meeting room across the hall, more than 30 seniors — that includes anyone 60 and older — prepared to work on strength, balance and flexibility in the Senior Fit class, led by instructor Debbie Grossman.
“Deb Grossman is just amazing,” Bernstein said.
“And these folks, it’s like religion to them,” he added, referring to the way the exercisers faithfully attend this class or a similar class, some just about every day. “They get exercise, and they also get the benefit of socializing. They’ll be schmoozing afterward.”
Not all participants are members of the center, he said. Some simply sign up for a class or two. “Community is our middle name,” Bernstein said. “As much as we love people to join, we want to make everyone feel welcome.”
Soon Grossman had the class stretching in all directions, kicking and lunging, doing curls, throwing punches and lifting their arms from various angles, often with hand-held weights.
Here there was evidence of how people can adapt the class to challenge themselves at the appropriate level; some held a 5-pound weight in each hand as they reached for the ceiling, some held 2 pounds, some held 1 pound, and you could keep your hands free if you wanted to.
“She never repeats anything. From day to day, there’s so much variety,” said exerciser Laurie Langan, 60 of Kingston, calling herself “a newbie” with only four weeks of experience. But during that four weeks, she said, she’s been feeling stronger and more flexible.
As the class worked different muscle groups, a sound track played such songs as “Midnight Train to Georgia,” which was released by Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1973; and “Stayin’ Alive,” which the Bee Gees released in 1977. So the music alone might have made the exercisers feel as if they were 45 to 50 years younger.
“I love this class,” said Margaret Maley, 60, of Wilkes-Barre, adding she felt the best benefit was social. “I love all the ladies here.”
Others pointed to the workout itself as the big draw.
“I’m here five days a week,” said Paulette Haddock of Wyoming, noting that she’s 68, which was the age her mother was when an unfortunate fall had lasting consequences. She doesn’t want history to repeat itself, so she’s especially intent on working on her balance.
Tom Iliadis of Shavertown, who happened to be the only gentleman in the Senior Fit class, said he appreciates the exercise. “It’s a good way to start the day.”
Echoing Bernstein’s earlier comments, instructor Debbie Grossman said it’s important for people, especially seniors, to be active.
“I’ve seen what happens when they don’t move; it’s not good,” she said, adding that each person in the class can take part at his or her own pace.
“They listen to their bodies and see what they can and can’t do,” she said.
As soon as the 10 a.m. class was finished, people began to enter the room for the 11 a.m. class, which is especially designed for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.
“We all see neurologists,” said participant Joe DeVizia, 79, of Larksville. “When I go to see my neurologist, in Philadelphia, the first thing he asks is, are you still taking the class? He said the exercise is as important as medication, maybe more so.”
The class helps a lot with flexibility, said class member Hal Williams, 75, of Ashley.
“I feel tired afterward,” DeVizia said, “but it’s well worth it.”
For more information about classes at the JCC, see friedmanjcc.org. The phone number is 570-824-4646.