30 - Sunday, March 6, 1994 - North Shore News Exercising fitness demons just part of shape-up plan Well, I got my comeup- pance. You see, I think I’m in pretty good shape for an old lady. I do my own housework, I lay off some of the stuff I'd like to eat, I walk daily, deliberately making errands for myself in any sort of weather. It's just part of keeping a grip on one’s self-respect, really. But J hadn‘t kept company with Christine Colbow, This lady had called me, you see, {0 tell me about the exercise - class she runs up at Delbrook a couple of times a week. She has all these seniors, she told me, both men and women, that she spends time on because she thinks that people in their 70s and 80s just don’t have the fitness point of view that the 55-year-olds were more Or less brought up on. So therefore real seniors need her help. : _ She's right about the fitness “part. We didn’t get the early emphasis, as she says, and though everyone nowadays is yelling about participaction we know what it means but we're missing the commitment. * ‘» The chores we had to do looked after that part of our lives ~ when we were young, chopping __ wood, stacking same, digging ..., potatoes, shovelling snow, mow- ing the grass with a machine that didn’t plug into anything except “your arms and legs. . Lrecall some school exercises, : but just in the space between the desks, mostly relief from sitting . hunched. : it’s not to be taken lightly, putting yourself in charge of a class in fitness-for-seniors — it requires stringent training in suit- “able exercise, but also, because of . the old-age angle, classes in CPR and nutrition, all of which must - be refreshed annually, at a price. ““. “There are exams to write and - Eleanor Nae 3) YEARS practicums to prove one’s levels of attainment. And lectures to attend each year to keep one up to date with new choreography, which for us seniors must be the low-impact style. All of this comes under the aegis of the B.C. Parks and Recreation Commission, and Christine has succeeded in keep- ing her own classes going for eight years now. She’s got roughly 20 to 25 people coming to the Tamarak Room at Delbrook Recreation Centre on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 10 to 11. They pay a smal! fee for their class, and from the time she plugs in the music, about which she has strong views, all those elderly people are in motion for the next three-quar- ters of an hour, flat out. They hop and skip and punch the air in every direction. They make runs for the centre, retreat en masse throw up their arms and stir up their parts. - Everyone sweats profuscly. No wonder I was puffing! It's years since I galloped around like that. . The part | liked the best was. when they did the dosey-do and -made an inside line and an outside S Great value, quality products and professional service. Now that’s peace of mind. 922-4668 Schedule a Free Appotntuent 2413 Marine Drive, Dunderave, West Vancouver line for swing-your-partner. Everybody may be over-age, but there isn'ta sissy in the whole bunch, The finishing part is Moor- exercises, Everyone brings a mat and tries hard to tie the poor old body : in a loose knot. They all got i =F undone quite casily, to my sur- 2055 Purcell Way prise. North Vancouver Christine doesn’t stop with the British Columbia exercising. These people become Canada V7J 3H5 her friends, and friends with each Gather, They organize walks together for the non-class days. There are some lovely trails beside the. | creek-beds in that Delbrook- Highlands area. And they also exciinge everything from recipes to garden produce to flowers and plants, They go to plays together and ‘talk about them. They have an annual garden-party together, and all rally round when one of their - members, deeply concerned with Amnesty International, needs donations. ; You gather it’s not your aver- age exercise class. But their leader isn’t your average leader, either. She has taught biology at Simon Fraser University, German language to Canadians and Canadian language to German students, and loves to spend what spare time she finds’ - on crafts, with emphasis on dried flowers, She is herself a senior, and is also fit, as is fitting under the circumstances... She loves the work she does and is thrilled by the change she sevs come about in the people she works with. She gets out of it just as much exhilaration as the member who | — firids socks easier to put on. or. that the grip on the golf club has". improved. _ : The number to call for registra- tion details is 926-2730. You'll soon stop puffing and start ° Sponsored by: The Spectra Group of Great Restaurants Inc. ° Information Meeting Resident Care Attendant Program Are you interested in working with seniors? If the answer is yes, you should know about the Resident Care Attendant Program, This 20-week, full-time program prepares you to work with older residents in care facilities such as Cedarview Lodge, and Evergreen House. at Lions Gate Hospital. . To find out more, attend the information mecting on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in H Building, Room:204, For more information, call 984-4960. YOU WIN... with the purchase of $5 ibbon, you receive over $300. | worth of free goods & services from participating sponsors. .. THEKIDSWIN... every dl aed trough heal of ribbons goesto pay for registration or equipment for kids throughout B.C. . Who can't afford to get into the game! ut SportsDay is the day when B.C. recognizes the importance of amateur sport in the mental and physical development ofour youth, On March 111, show your support by wearing our yeliow ribbon and your sportswear to work. 100% of SpertsDay proceeds go to removing the financial obstacles that prevent some children from playing sport. Ta Ribbons are available at any of the § ! Grou ) of Great Restaurants listed or by calling 737-3190. ° sHtilestone’s«The Boathouse PJ's | * Bread Garden » Gallery Café & Catering