Seniors encouraged to recall their body to health [The Morehead News, Ky.]

Sept. 10--Rowan County citizens can join their colleagues across the nation in recalling their body, health and life as they participate in the Body Recall fitness program Sept. 21 at the Morehead United Methodist Church, 227 West Main Street.

Body Recall Trainer Barbara Marsh said more baby boomers are becoming of age. With life expectancy extending, folks want to know ways to become healthy and strong. Many seniors have turned to a health fitness program called "Body Recall."

"It's a lifetime fitness program designed to make senior citizens' muscles more flexible and stronger," Marsh said. "It is designed to help them be more self-reliant and enjoy life more. Benefits are they will learn about fall recovery. The fall recovery course teaches the elderly how to recover from falls. Also we use music and a pull up stick, sponge balls and wands, elastic ropes, parachutes and rubber balloons as incentives to get people to participate in the fitness program. This is the type of workout that keeps them moving.

"It is for anyone who is disabled or people who do not like to exercise. The exercises feature chair workouts. It's a stress buster. It helps people sleep better that night. The program has been in existence for 30 years and it is used by seniors all over the United States."

She found out about the program through her mother-in-law Harriet Marsh.

"I've noticed she has a wonderful outlook on life," Marsh said. "She still drives. She goes up and down stairs on her own. She lives by herself. I wondered how she was doing this. I asked her about it. I found out she was a part of this class. She gave me a manual on this. I decided to go to a class to see what it was like. There were 80 and 90 year olds in the class."

Marsh said she wanted to investigate the program more. As she began to research the fitness program, she had a better understanding of her mother-in-law's ability to enjoy life and be self-sufficient. She was so impressed by the program that she decided to get certification to teach the fitness program in Rowan County.

"I received my certification in June at the body Recall Headquarters in Berea," Marsh said. "I wanted to give back to my community. There's a large elderly population in Morehead, Rowan County and surrounding counties."

While at the Body Recall headquarters, she met Dr. Everett Schaeffer and his wife Roberta who were members of the class. Mr. Schaeffer was a physician at the Red Bird Mission. The doctor and his wife are 92 and 95 years old and participate regularly in the classes in Berea.

Marsh said the fitness class in Morehead would be a local ministry.

"I will be hosting Body Recall classes in the United Methodist Church, 227 West Main Street in the Wesley Hall," she said. "I will be hosting three classes a week. They will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Classes will begin on Sept. 21. The first class will be an informational meeting."

Marsh encourages all seniors to come and check out the class and what it has to offer.

"If they have been thinking about exercise and they haven't found a time, a place or a method, consider Body Recall," she said. "If they want to recall their body, they don't have to be in a healthy state of mind to start but when they get involved in the program, they can develop good healthy habits."

The fitness program is very affordable for citizens, she added.

"There is a $2 donation suggested for the class," Marsh said. "Fifty cents is used for equipment for the class such as sponge balls, ropes, and manuals. One dollar goes to the Red Bird Mission and 50 cents goes to the Morehead United Methodist Church."

For information about the class, citizens are encouraged to contact Marsh at 356-1573 or Morehead United Methodist Church at 784-5626. Information is displayed on the fitness program website at www.bodyrecall.org.

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