Fountain of youth only a few reps away

Kathleen Alspaugh participates in a fitness class three days a week, plays tennis once a week and walks Mount Sanitas the other three or four days. She’s not in training, she’s just trying to keep fit and active as she gets older.

“I just plan to be out there every day for the rest of my life,´ said the 68-year-old Boulder resident.

While Alspaugh has always been an active person – she ran two Chicago Marathons when she was in her 40s and ran the Bolder Boulder once – she believes staying active is really important as she ages.

“It is OK to be 68 if I feel the way I do,” she said. “I feel as good as I did years ago.”

Alspaugh’s outlook is exactly why Boulder offers so many options for seniors to stay active.

“If you don’t use it you lose it,´ said Jennifer Paddock, a group fitness instructor with the city of Boulder. “You have to move in order to maintain the ability to move.”

Seniors have a wealth of choices when it comes to finding activities. The YMCA, area recreation and senior centers, and local fitness clubs offer programs specifically designed for older adults.

Through the YMCA Active Older Adults program, members ages 50 and up can participate in social events, informational lectures, outings, trips and exercise classes.

The Boulder Senior Center offers a wide variety of activities for all types of needs. There are classes that focus on fitness, health, mental acuity and socialization. The center also offers fitness assessments so seniors can discover the appropriate class level for their abilities.

At the Flatiron Athletic Club, senior members have access to the Platinum Rockers Program, designed to promote a healthy lifestyle among adults 50 and above. Through the program, the club offers swimming, strength, stretch and arthritis aquatics programs. Platinum Rockers also sponsor seminars on a variety of health-related topics.

“One of the key things to remember is that (seniors) are every bit as capable of improving in cardiovascular strength, balance and flexibility as everyone else,” Paddock said. “With a consistent exercise program that continues to challenge them, there are tremendous changes in strength a person can experience. With all those aspects improving, your whole quality of life can take a great upward swing.”

Betty Van Zandt can attest to the benefits of staying active. Van Zandt is approaching 83 years old and suffers from spinal stenosis – when the spine contracts and presses on the nerves. To help her condition, she tries to attend exercise class five days a week. Although it can hurt to go, the class makes her feel much better. In fact, she hasn’t had to have physical therapy or injections for two years since she has been exercising.

“It has just helped me tremendously,” she said. “I have more energy. I feel better. I started working with one pound weights, and now I’m doing some things with 10-pound weights. I keep seeing it getting better.”

According to Melissa Pruitt, a fitness professional with the city of Boulder, exercise is especially important for seniors because the aging process often means an individual is less active. The loss of activity can result in loss of muscle mass and the onset of diseases.

Boulder resident Jack Burden wanted to avoid just that when he retired, so he started exercising.

“I saw people I knew retire, do nothing and within six months they were dead,” he said.

Burden has congenital heart failure and knows that the walking and hiking he does help keep his heart functioning properly and reduce the risk of other diseases. He also goes to the recreation center to keep up his upper body strength.

“There’s no free lunch out there,” he said. “You pay the price or serve the consequences. I’m working on paying the price. I’m learning to live at 84 and enjoying it.”

“Exercise keeps you healthy, fit and most importantly – independent,” Pruitt said.

Frances Morgan of Broomfield lost her husband six years ago. She is a breast cancer survivor of five years and confirms exercise has kept her strong and independent.

“Exercise makes a big difference on your outlook of life,” Morgan said. “It keeps you positive.”

The 77 year old participates in a range of activities including downhill skiing, golf, snowshoeing, swimming and hiking. She travels to Boulder three days a week for an aerobics class at the recreation center.

“I really enjoy the social aspect of the aerobics class,” she said. “We’ve done other things together like going to see a Rockies game, taking an opera course and going to see plays.”

Both Pruitt and Paddock believe the social aspect of group exercise is a great bonus for older adults.

“The sense of community is a big component in feeling better about themselves,” agreed Susan Golden, program coordinator for the Boulder Senior Center.

In addition to the physical and social benefits, Jane Stockebrand also feels that exercise improves her mental health. The 73 year old has had both hips and a knee replaced, undergone rotator cuff surgery and had a stint put in her heart. She has rehabilitated through water aerobics and also does Pilates and weight training. She also takes walks in her neighborhood.

“I think exercise or anything you do out of your norm has so many attributes that I can’t imagine being sedentary,´ said Stockebrand.

Before starting a fitness program, seniors should get their doctor’s permission – especially if they’ve been inactive. Pruitt recommended a walking program or to join a class that is designed for older adults to start. If possible, an exercise program should include cardio, strength training and flexibility work.

“For seniors, the starting place is to do what you like to do,” Pruitt said. “If you don’t like it, you won’t do it regularly.”

Pruitt said the attitude toward senior fitness has changed over the years. At one time it was thought that people are very frail and had to limit what they could do. She said what people can do is so individualized, however, most can keep working out and keep active.

“There doesn’t have to be some fear factor that they can’t do this,” she said.

Karen Ripley can attest to that. She does water aerobics and Quigong and is also an active gardener.

“I am a firm believer in exercise even though my body has a lot of difficulties,´ said the 67-year-old resident of Boulder. “I have a lot of arthritis and although it can be painful, exercise keeps me going.”

“Do whatever exercise you can do; it doesn’t make a difference,” Ripley said. “Having fun is one of those things that keep us alive.”

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