By  LPJ

Tuesdays and Thursdays are new jewels in my treasure box. I hadn’t expected them to be precious. Funny, I stayed away from them for a long time. I’m talking about senior exercise days scheduled at the YMCA in Palo Alto, California. My son and daughter are proud of me, they said, because I finally joined the Y. My friends are proud of me they said, because I finally saw the need. I am proud of myself because I finally overcame my stubbornness and admitted I need the exercise. I even enjoy it, and I thank God for that.

The class seems to grow every week. I’ve attended for two months, and already, I notice that more chairs are set up almost to the end of the large gymnasium. Every participant gets a chair for movements while seated during the regular routine. For more practical reasons, the chair is for any of the seniors who may wish to continue the exercise while sitting down due to a physical challenge, or when tired.

The regiment caters to seniors at any stage of physical fitness.

Larry, the instructor, is outstanding. He is respectful, sensitive to participants’ needs and is quick to notice if anyone requires special attention. His exercise program is a continuous flow of studiously orchestrated steps and movements to help the body acquire strength. Yet, the regiment in the one-hour sessions is never too much. It is just right, not demanding; it’s like a gentle nudge that’s fun to do. The activities include walking around the room, marching, stretching, bending, boxing strokes, standing push-outs from the wall, carrying weights appropriate to one’s capability or energy, My challenge is holding one knee up and balancing on the other foot. I always need to hold the back of the chair to keep my balance. One of these days, I aim to surprise myself by not leaning on the chair while maintaining a stable stance.

There are more women than men in this group.  I am especially humbled to see female and male seniors, more physically challenged, but so serious in following the exercise protocol. It is so motivating to see everyone in the class pursuing that personal goal to be fit or more fit.  Folks recovering from back surgeries, or knee replacements, or dealing with severe osteoporosis are in the class. There, too, are those like me, reaching out for the magic wand that would spark strength to legs, arms or shoulders, or to muscles and bones. It is also socially ingratiating to find new friends in the group, usually, with goals common to mine, or with irregularities that I initially had thought were unique only to me. Not that relief comes in noting that others work through the same difficulties I have – i.e. the need for more strength in my knees and legs. I am happy that they all aim to be better, and even have fun in the process. So why can’t I? The whole exercise protocol is a blessing – a blessing that inspires humility, determination and perseverance.

To boot, I have new friends that I engage in email exchanges with. We encourage each other. And more, we rejoice over small and big victories, like aches disappearing after an exercise. My next challenge is to join the aqua/pool class at least once a week. It’s refreshing, and it’s fun I’m told.

So, Tuesdays and Thursdays bless the rest of my week – like having a coveted coconut macapuno/ube ice cream on a sugar cone (a favorite that I don’t often have but dream of). A side goal for all this exercise, mundane perhaps – is to do a Europe tour with my daughter Joy. But she says – no Mom, not until you’re stronger for long walks. Hmmm …

My take for young readers of BBL:

— Take care of yourselves, even while you’re still young.

— Encourage your Lolos and Lolas, and parents, too, to try exercise, if they haven’t yet — the extent of activities depending of course on their capabilities.

Linda P. Jacob