Active and ageless

A couple times a week during the colder months of the North Idaho year, a group gets together at Community United Methodist Church to enjoy each other’s company. While the vast majority of the group is retired and there are chairs involved, most spend very little time using them in the normal fashion.

Welcome to a Lake City Striders Inland Northwest chapter exercise session, where people come to stay active, gain balance and fitness that will enhance their daily lives — no matter what their age.

Joyce Finley introduces herself as others prepare their workout stations. Finley moves and talks fast as a spry 91-year-old. She shares a little background on the group before the class gets underway.

“I have people tell me on the phone ‘Oh, you don’t sound 91’, or when they meet me they say ‘You don’t look 91,’” Finley said. Well, I say, ‘What does a 91-year-old person sound like?’ I get tickled over that.”

Current instructor Amber Rose, a certified fitness instructor who works at the Kroc Center, calls the group to task on a recent morning and begins the class.

Rose covers a wide range of choices so attendees can choose what variation of the activity will most benefit them.

Finley points out Bea Fisher, moving along with Amber at age 94. “There is no limitation on age for this group. Everyone can benefit from the program and Amber is great at laying out your range of options for each exercise based on your fitness and exertion limitations.”

During the summer, the group takes advantage of the weather and meets at Coeur d’Alene City Park on Tuesdays at 8 a.m., beginning May 23. The Lake City chapter holds exercise classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church (across Atlas Road from Lake City High School) the rest of the year.

In addition to the classes, many members track their walking mileage and the group has an awards meeting once a year. “We also have a potluck picnic once during the summer and we have Jim Dossee perform and anyone who wants to get up and sing can do that,” Finley added.

The exercise sessions offer a good variety of activities, with a focus of covering all the muscle groups and flexibility enhancement.

“They’ve been doing this quite a while and I was subbing for the person that was doing it and when he got sick I took it over,” Rose said after the 45-minute session had concluded. “I try and follow what was originally set, but I’ve added a few elements here and there. We try to make sure it is a full-body workout, we try to address the front and back of the body, I try to design it so that it is useful for their everyday lives — to try and enrich their lives so they are stronger and they can do the things that they want to keep doing as they get older.”

Rose said her main goal is for participants to continue doing what they want in life, to not be held back by any fitness or activity limitations.

“My main goal is for them to continue doing what they want to do. Stay active and enjoy their grandkids and family — they have more free time in retirement.”

Rose said sometimes change is hard. “If you haven’t been active for a while it can be a challenge, but it is so worth it. We are under the belief that if you use it, you lose it.”

Bill and Darlene Goyen were nice enough to share their experiences and favorite parts of Striders.

“I’m still going and I’m 83,” Bill said. “I’ve been here since the beginning (1995) and when (Striders founder) Steve (Colwell) started this, he said it is not a social club, but we all want to be friends and be social with each other, and that was his main goal.”

“This program has helped us a lot with our mobility,” Darlene added. “I do a lot of gardening and yard work and it’s been a help to that.”

As Rose packed up to head over to the Kroc to conduct a spin class, she summed up what she personally gets out of the Striders meetings. “It is a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful community — they just help each other in so many ways — it’s not just about the physical fitness — it is also the mental fitness and that weekly gathering together that is the key.”

Summer exercise classes

The Lake City chapter of Striders INW will hold exercise classes each Tuesday at the bandshell in Coeur d’Alene City Park beginning May 23. More information available at www.striders-inw.org

Striders INW walking program

The Lake City and Spokane Valley chapters of Striders will have 10 organized walks during the summer. All walks are Wednesday mornings beginning on June 14. Local walks include Falls Park (Post Falls), Sanders Beach (Coeur d’Alene), North Idaho College and the Prairie Trail. Information: www.striders-inw.org