‘Your body is your own exercise machine’

Fifty and Up class is a ‘stretch’

By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer

EASTPOINTE — Roseville resident Elfriede Torkler, 74, has made exercise a priority in her life.

She finds different ways to stay active — one of them is by being a student in the Fifty and Up class offered through the East Detroit Public Schools Leisure and Enrichment program.  

The class, held twice a week at the Kellwood School, is designed for anyone 50 and older aiming to keep their bodies forever flexible and strong.

“I wanted some additional exercise and it sounded good,” Torkler said.

Maxine Jones teaches Fifty and Up, which focuses on stretching every muscle, working out the abdomen, strengthening the back, and toning the arms and legs. This term, the class attracted 14 students, who prove it’s never too late to get into shape.

“Stretching is so important,” Jones, 67, said. “It’s good to keep the muscles flexible. I just don’t like feeling like a pretzel.”

Jones and her students began class Sept. 23 relieving stress with a number of neck and shoulder rolls to soothing music.

“Keep the tummy tucked in and the derriere in,” Jones called out. “Just let the shoulders drop and relax. Breathe. Breathe normally.”

Then they went into a number of stretching exercises by clasping their arms in front of them and carefully moving side to side.

“This is good for the waist and lower back,” Jones said. “What’s good about staying flexible is if you fall you’re less apt to break something.

“Oh, gosh, that feels good,” Jones said when reaching for the ground.

Jones, who likes to share stories with the group while working out, said Fifty and Up is not about competing with others.

“You’re learning your body at your own pace. Your body is your own exercise machine. It will let you know what you’re lacking,” Jones said. “It’s not strenuous. There is no competition here. We move. We stop when we feel we’ve had enough.”

The fun really began when Jones cued Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” and everyone started bopping to the famous dance. It was easy to see that some had done “The Twist” many times before. Jones even encouraged the twisters to try variations of the dance.

“Good for the tummy,” she said.

And although the class is geared for people 50 and older, all ages are welcome. Each class ends with a cool-down in which Jones instructed all to do their best Marilyn Monroe walk around the gymnasium.

Lillian Welsh’s physical therapist encouraged her to enroll in the Fifty and Up class, particularly to strengthen an arm and hip.

“My therapist said I need to work all my muscles,” the 66-year-old Eastpointe resident said.

Remaining active is second nature for Welsh. She walks 3 miles per day, which helped her lose 22 1/2 pounds on the Weight Watchers program.

The class has been a vehicle for Mark Kaminski to become physically active again. The Eastpointe resident, who turns 56 this month, is recovering from surgeries he endured after an accident that occurred June 11 in Afghanistan. Kaminski, an electrician overseas assisting the U.S. military, was hit in the stomach with shrapnel when a mortar exploded 10 feet away from him.

“This is getting me warmed up,” he said. “I was so stiff. Every bone and every muscle ached. You get out of shape a lot quicker than you get into shape.”

Another session of Fifty and Up begins Oct. 30. The six-week class meets from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Kellwood. Class fee is $38. Call (586) 445-4416 to register. For further information on the Leisure and Enrichment program, log on to www.eastdetroit.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Maria Allard allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045.