Fedore Writer

Last fall, my sister, Karen, joined an aerobics class for the first time at 66, proving that a person can try something new and be successful at any time in their lives. 

Before joining, we read the Active Older Adults “dance party” class description: “Live your life to the fullest and turn it up with a fiercely fun, personality-fueled” workout.

Of course we were interested.

“It’s weird that we’re seniors, right?” Karen smiled at me as we both entered the fitness center to join.

I agree. I don’t feel like a senior citizen, but I’m glad we joined. It’s inspiring and energizing to work out with a dedicated group of fitness enthusiasts.

During every class, I think to myself, “No excuses. These people show up no matter what” and they’re having fun!

You can tell Katina has been active her entire life from her toned arms rhythmically moving to classic pop and disco music. And it’s unlikely you could accurately guess her age.

Nor could you guess Noreen’s, Connie’s, Dedee’s, Patricia’s, or Jeanne—the aerobics instructor’s—age. But age is not what’s important here. These fit women have stories that are lessons on endurance and wellness.

In an interview after class on Senior Fitness Day, of all days, Katina shared that she skied as a kid and was in team sports. At 71 years old, Katina has a “new knee and two new hips.”

She maintains her fitness safely with variety. A workout she dislikes the most is “anything that hurts!” Katina describes “pounding the pavement” as an example of something that puts wear and tear on her body. This is why Katina varies her activities, such as the senior aerobics classes and yoga, Mondays through Saturdays. 

And her fitness doesn’t stop there. Regular workouts allowed this 71-year-old to recently bike in the Netherlands and in eight National Parks.

If you think Katina is impressive, how about 88-year-old Noreen?

Noreen walked after work with her husband when she was younger but joined a gym much later in life, like my sister, Karen. Prior to age 65, Noreen was a busy mom of four, a wife, and working as a nurse. She was always giving advice to patients to exercise more. “I figured I ought to practice what I preach,” Noreen said with a wry smile after class. “So, I took a course at Pierce College to learn how to use exercise equipment,” and she joined a local fitness center.

Noreen continued her gym workouts with a group of devotees. “We ended up at 24-Hour Fitness as a big group and eventually turned up here.”

Her favorite activity is using the weights and machines, which allow her to avoid taking medication for osteopenia. Like other members of the active-older-adults class, Noreen manages pain. Her pain is from scoliosis and arthritis in her knees and shoulders.

Yet, she just keeps moving, largely due to a social community to which she enjoys belonging.

Noreen says sometimes she’s tempted to skip working out with excuses like, “my back hurts” or “I have too much to do.” But she comes to class anyway.

Connie, 71 years old, also is part of Noreen’s workout community that transferred from 24-Hour Fitness to this gym. Connie works out two to three times a week.

Growing up with her mom and grandma working out to Jack Lalanne (TV fitness guru for at least three decades) gave her positive role models. Connie started with Jazzercise in 1981, which shows that the fitness industry continues to morph and change with us.

“I prefer a group class like the one Jeanne [current instructor] teaches. Good music and fun,” Connie wrote in an email interview. “I really don’t like to do the weight machines even though I know they are good for me. Honestly, I don’t do them that often because I don’t like them!” She prefers the social interaction she gets from a group exercise class.

“I feel much better when I get exercise,” Connie wrote.

“Breathing is my biggest issue,” said Dedee in an email exchange with me. And yet she’s alongside other class members grape vining, kicking, and dancing. “Motivation comes from my thoughts of others in my class counting on me to be there, just as I hope that they are. Ya gotta have a little fun with it!”

Observing Dedee, it’s hard to comprehend what this “71-years-young” woman has overcome. Quite recently, she was being treated for stage-4 lung cancer and kidney disease, a complication from the immunotherapy.

After treatment, Dedee’s PET scan shows she’s cancer-free. Now, Dedee exercises four to five times a week, with two of those days stretching. She’s been working out for the past twenty-plus years except for two-and-a-half years fighting cancer.

Before class, when she has told me with a smile, “I mowed the lawn,” I now understand why she’s so happy about this.

She shared in her email, “Last year, I had to stop three to four times while mowing to finish. Now I’m continuing until done with only stopping once.” 

Dedee, like many members in this class, has learned that exercise and movement is key. “As the chemo nurses had told me from day-one, exercise is the best thing you can do, and I know that I will be better off health wise if I continue to exercise.”

Like other members, Dedee prefers working out with a group, in classes. “If I had to go and just do weights and individual work, I would probably skip a couple of times a week.” She adds, “Today, I feel like a very lucky lady. Life is good and I thank the Lord every day.”

Patricia, 77 years old, has exercised since childhood, has no current health issues, and enjoys a variety of fitness activities. “As I get older, I pick and choose the workouts that are less aggressive.” Her favorite is water aerobics. “In the water it gives you lower impact, and is easier on knees, hips, back, and ankles. I can still build up my muscle strength,” Patricia wrote in her email interview.

Patricia motivates herself to work out because she knows she won’t be doing it alone. “I look forward to being with friends who are not judging me.” 

She wrote that she likes “the convenience of land exercise, which has more variety like walking, jogging, bike riding, strength training, and dancing.”

And the glue that holds us all together, giving us energy and enjoyment, is our 67-year-old instructor, Jeanne, who’s been teaching aerobics and strength training for almost 40 years. She’s been active all her life, starting with track in junior high school, then riding “sweet Shawnee”—her horse.

Jeanne, who works out daily, believes that we were “made to move. There are modifications for just about everything – ANYBODY can exercise.” 

To illustrate Jeanne’s point, in her interview, Noreen mentioned that she appreciates that Jeanne gives class members options—different levels for engagement. For example, level one would be low impact (staying close to the ground), and level two might be adding propulsion (a hop, sprint, or other movement that increases our heart rate). 

Jeanne says, “Motion is lotion!”

She likes just about any kind of movement—cardio, weights—but she dislikes any exercise that makes her fear getting injured. She also dislikes burpees but does them anyway.

Jeanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. Her radiologist told her to exercise vigorously every single day for 45 minutes. “I am following her advice.”  

Jeanne shared, “In all my years of teaching classes, this [active-adults class] is the most fun I’ve ever had. When I worked at 24-Hour Fitness, I noticed the Silver Sneakers classes were the biggest classes in the gym. The instructor had a great following, with parties, potlucks, and get togethers. It has been my goal to re-create what that instructor had done. Some of the ladies who took the Silver Sneakers class, now attend my classes. That instructor no longer teaches, but her legacy lives on.”

A year ago, Karen and I could not have imagined ourselves working out in holiday T-shirts, drumming on fit balls with drumsticks, or holding a “Heisman trophy pose” for balance. Yet now, we make it to every class we can.

“It’s fun … an adrenaline rush,” Karen says, summing up one of the many benefits of movement.

And the Senior Fitness Day theme sums it up best. “Move a little. Live a lot!”

Related Blogs are: Saying Yes to Yoga, PE Has Changed for Good

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