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BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County fitness class at the Martin Andersen Senior Center in Rockledge is getting seniors active and off the couch.
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), “taking it easy” is risky. Many times, inactivity is more to blame than age when seniors lose the ability to do things on their own.
NIA stated lack of physical activity can lead to more trips to the doctor, more trips to the hospital and more medicine to combat pain.
“It’s about daily living. The reaching that we are doing with the sticks — so you can still reach up and under. So these skills are beneficial in everyday walks of life,” said Jeanette Gray, who leads the high energy class. “We want to motivate you to do what we’re doing.”
One class member, Alice Benjamin, is 97 years old and can keep up with the best of them. She has become an inspiration to her classmates, and the group has adopted her motto.
“Get up and move. Be present and keep moving,” she said.
Benjamin admits three years ago she wasn’t active. She thought people who were reliant on walkers couldn’t exercise.
However, the NIA stated seniors who exercise routinely can manage or prevent arthritis, heart disease, stroke, and even breast and colon cancer.
