Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Exercisers celebrate 20 years of classes

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



SIXTEEN ACRES "One, two, three, four, five, six seven, eight, nine, ten." Pearl Kaplan counted rhythmically as she stretched her way through the opening sequence of last Wednesday morning's session.

Kaplan joined the exercise group sometime in the 1980s, when it was held at the now-condemned Greenleaf Community Center and Cindy Musa, a city employee, was the instructor.

Twenty years and two knee replacements later, Kaplan still makes it to the thrice-weekly class, which, for the last two years, has met Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:45-10:30 a.m. at the Church in the Acres on Wilbraham Road.

Only now, she's one of the class' leaders.

"I've done it so long it's automatic," Kaplan said of the 100-exercise mix of calisthenics, yoga and pilates.

What she can't do a kneeling back arch, for example, co-leader Pat Keough a 79-year-old former firefighter will 10-count the class through.

If Keough and his wife, Mary, don't happen to make the class one morning, Ed Dibble fills in for him.

It's a congenial group sixteen members in all ranging in age from 60 to 80. Eight to 12 members make it to each class.

"It always starts on time," said Teresa Concepcion. "Everybody knows they will be out on time and can go do other things."

Pat Varney, who has been exercising with the group for about two years, said the camaraderie was one of the things that keeps her coming back.

That, and the type of exercises the class does.

"I've been to two or three other [classes] and I think this is the best for this age," she said.

Catherine Barrett sees the use-it-or-lose-it benefit of attending the class.

"It makes me more limber ... going up and down stairs," she said.

But it isn't just the body benefits that keep the class members coming week after week. There's the spring luncheon at Il Giardino, and the Christmas get-together.

And the spontaneous in- class celebrations.

Like Wednesday, when the group stopped mid-exercise and began singing "Happy Anniversary" to Pat and Mary Keough.

You see, June 14 was their 54th anniversary.

New members are welcome to come and observe or join the group, which meets promptly at 9:45 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in Walker Hall at the Church in the Acres. The class is free, but the group does make a monthly donation to the church in appreciation for the use of the hall.