Column: Rhythm Rockers

Are you a senior who is tired of being tired? Haven't enough pep to swallow your vitamins?

Then treat your tired body to a pick up three times a week with the Rhythm Rockers exercise group. No, they don't use rocking chairs, they use rhythm. They meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Carson City Senior Center on Beverly Drive. It's loads of fun and fitness combined in 50 minutes of laughs and musical footwork.

The class is co-ed and the format is non-impact, structured to return full range of motion to stiff joints and to strengthen weak muscles.

There are exercise moves for your legs as well as your heart. You will learn to breathe right, when to exhale, and how to relieve your stress.

This exercise class improves your circulation, your balance and your coordination. You will learn to monitor your heart rate and when to slow down. There's lots of giggles, crazy stories, silly music and laughs.

Emphasis is placed on endurance for a healthy heart and flexibility moves to stretch reluctant joints and muscles. Rubber balls are used for resistance and towels for stretching. Some of the students use weights on ankles during leg exercises and hand-held weights during arm strengthening.

The students in this class have expanded their lives to include such activities as square dancing, boat trips, river rafting and even roller coaster riding. Their health is better, they aren't afraid to try new experiences and they don't get older, they get better!

Up-to-date wellness information is discussed during the class and questions are welcome. Keep this class in mind if you want to hold off the aging process. You will improve your quality of life and have a lot of fun too!

Jerry Vance is certified by the American Council on Exercise and teaches fitness at the Carson City Community Center and for the American Lung Association.