SilverSneakers Helps Seniors Socialize, Stay Young

A group of ladies, ranging in age from their 50s to 90s, gather three times a week at Gold's Gym of Charles Town to take part in something they all adore: SilverSneakers.

SilverSneakers Fitness is a national program covered by some insurance companies that offers seniors a variety of fitness classes and sometimes free memberships at participating fitness centers and gyms.

SilverSneakers helps many participants see improvements in several areas of life.

"I'm a cancer survivor," said Kathy Shively, 67. "I had most of my colon removed. And I started coming here right after my surgery I couldn't move. I went from not being able to move to now, where I am moving."

Her friend, Bernice Christner, has been going to SilverSneakers classes for two years. She goes three times a week.

"Well, it makes me move, where I would be sitting in my chair at home. It just gets you moving," she said. "I have more energy It's the crowd of enthusiasm. Some days there are more than 40 people here. I'll be 79 years old next month."

Instructor Jody Strickler, who teaches the one-hour class Monday Wednesday and Fridays at 11:30 a.m., has seen many others in her class experience positive health benefits from participating in SilverSneakers.

"SilverSneakers is my most rewarding class. We have one lady who is 92, who is in the class all three days," Strickler said. "I see people reap benefits that are more than 'I want to lose weight.'

"One lady after attending class for a while, had been on insulin 20 years. She went back to the doctor for her diabetes treatment, and they said she can stop insulin."

Strickler, who also teaches an RPM cycling class at Gold's, said another lady who had used a walker for 10 years started taking the class to build up her mobility

"She came up to me one day and told me because of the class, she hadn't used her walker in two months. It's cool to see life changes," Strickler said. "The people in class say that I'm their favorite, but they are my favorite, too."

Evelyn Griffith, who works part-time at Meals on Wheels of Jefferson Comity, has been taking the SilverSneakers class for the past two or three years.

"It's better than no exercise at all. At our age, we need to move," Griffith said. "I used to just work out in the gym, but I have back issues, which lead me to try SilverSneakers. Here you are working different muscles every week."

Her friend, Nancy Dechenber, of Harpers Ferry agrees. Dechenber came back to the gym after her husband passed away

"I think, at my age, I have to keep busy" Dechenber said. "This class keeps me young. I do Zumba, too, and Jody is wonderful. I love the class."

Another participant, Dianne McDonald, also loves Zumba - and the social benefits of the class.

My favorite part is the Zumba. I love the Zumba. Friday we dance the whole time," McDonald said. "I feel so much better. I get up in the morning, and I feel good. When I don't do the exercises, I don't feel good."

McDaniel said she attends SilverSneakers classes two or three times a week, but the other participants spend time together outside the gym, too.

"We have dinners," she said. "We all bring food, a dish, and then we contribute to the chicken. It's great."

Strickler organizes the dinners quarterly The gym provides tables and the class participants all bring food.

"You see them making friends. It is cool to see people blossom," Strickler said. "TTiey also do stuff outside of class. Many of them form friendships. Many of them have had the death of a spouse. A group of them had a Super Bowl party

"It is nice-some of them, this is the only social interaction they get. They all get together and are buddies. I consider them all my buddies also."

The Charles Town Gold's Gym SilverSneakers class is the largest in the Eastern Panhandle. Some insurance companies pay for the classes or the classes and a gym membership. To learn about SilverSneakers, visit silversneakers .com.