Vanessa Kirkland is one of dozens of seniors participating in Sedentary Get Healthy exercise classes held at various locations in the Birmingham and Bessemer areas. (From Marika N. Johnson, Birmingham Times)
Written by Singh Posey | Birmingham Times
Veronica O’Neill, a former forklift operator in the Birmingham area, remembers sitting at home “doing nothing” and not moving until she was invited to a class.
“The elderly people inspired me to keep coming, because if they can do it, I can do it too,” she said upon arrival. “This class is really motivating for me because I am able to move better than I did before.”
Charlsetta McClain is one of dozens of seniors participating in “Sit and Get Fit” exercise classes held at various locations in the Birmingham and Bessemer areas. (Marika N. Johnson, Birmingham Times)
Sam “DJ Maestro” Anderson teaches women over 60, including 85-year-olds, how to stay fit during the “Sit to Get Healthy: 1 Step 2 Fitness” class held at various locations in Birmingham and Bessemer will guide you. fit. The classes began in 2019 with one class and are currently held at various locations throughout the Birmingham metropolitan area, including the Titusville Senior Center, Daniel Payne Community Plaza, and Bessemer Recreation Center.
“(At first) it wasn’t that big, but then it started growing more and more,” Anderson said. “…Sometimes I’m surprised.”
Before arriving in Birmingham from Detroit about four years ago, Anderson said she was already participating in a fitness program to help herself. “I needed to do some exercises…I have sciatica/hip problems. I’m bone to bone, so it’s hard for me to do these exercises standing up. That’s why I have sciatica/hip problems. I devised this (One Step to Fitness) so that you can (train) your whole body.
Once the program took off, “we packaged it, put it in a bottle and started running it,” he said. “I just want to give people hope.”
“I’ve been with 1 Step 2 Fitness for a little over a year,” said O’Neill, 63. “I take three classes a week with them: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.” spoke. “I had a total shoulder replacement. Years of work didn’t cut it. I couldn’t bend very well. I couldn’t even lift my arm, and now I can move very well. .”
O’Neal said her favorite part of the class is “we all get to work out together.” It gives me something to do. We sometimes go out for lunch and we all get along well. ”
Instructors Sam “Maestro” Anderson and Lois Germany collaborate on MYTV 68 WABM’s “Sit and Get Healthy” program Saturday at 11 a.m. (Marika N. Johnson, Birmingham Times)
Renee Rooney, 67, has been participating in Get Fit for two years. “We had a parishioner, Mrs. Evelyn Blackman, who promoted this quite a bit and we knew that for health reasons we needed to make plans to be in the presence of other people. I finally decided to come, listened to the music, and thought, wow, this is great.”
What she likes most is “exercise itself.” We all have different inspirations to keep us motivated, whether it’s health-related or just personal growth. ”
Since joining the company, Rooney said his health has improved significantly.
“Every time I go to the doctor, I tell them that I am continuously attending fitness classes. Last year, when I had some health problems, they encouraged me to keep my body healthy. It’s just a part of my life. Before I retired (retired from Southern Company for 18 years), I moved around all the time because of my job. Then my mom got sick and that limited me. I took care of her for a little over three years and now I’m in a program that keeps me going. You can.”
Lois Germany, who works with Anderson, said the program is about more than just fitness.
“We create experiences,” she said. “We’re more than just an exercise class. We pray for each other. When someone has surgery or is out sick, we raise money. We give away extravagant gifts at the end of class. will be drawn for free.”
Renee Rooney (left) and Veronica O’Neal are participants in the Sitting to Get Healthy exercise class held at various locations in the Birmingham and Bessemer areas. (Marika N. Johnson, Birmingham Times)
Most of the older adults were widows, and many, like O’Neill, didn’t follow much of a fitness program. “Now they have a place where they can work on their bodies and minds. Most of our classes have more than 40 members,” Ms. Germany said.
Germany is not a country that is familiar with fitness. She is the founder of 6th Street (Baptist Church) Sliders Line Dance Fitness Ministry, a group dedicated to the use of all line dances.
Germany said each class has its own Facebook page, which can be accessed and shared with children and grandchildren. She is also working with Anderson on a new TV show called “Sit and Get Healthy,” which began on Saturday, September 28th. Viewers can get fit while sitting at home by tuning into MYTV 68 WABM on Saturdays at 11am.
class schedule
Monday:
Oxmoor Recreation Center 1992 Wenonah Oxmoor Road Birmingham AL 35211 11am
Tuesday:
Hooper City Recreation Center 3901 4th Street West Birmingham, AL 9:45 am-10:30 am
Hopewell Community Center 4817 Jefferson Avenue, SW Birmingham, AL 35221
Wednesday:
Hooper City Recreation Center 3901 4th Street West Birmingham, AL 9:15 am-10:30 am
Titusville Senior Center 401 Omega Street Birmingham, AL 35205 10:45am – 11:30am
Platte City Sr. Daniel Payne Community Plaza Birmingham, AL 35214 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Thursday:
Brighton Senior Center 3810 7th Avenue North Brighton, AL 35020 10:30am – 11:30am
Bessemer Recreation Center 100 14th Street South, Highway 150 Bessemer, AL 35020 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Friday:
Bessemer Recreation Center 100 14th Street South, Highway 150 Bessemer, AL 35020 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Platte City Sr. Daniel Payne Community Plaza Birmingham, AL 35214 3:30pm – 4:30pm
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