Staying fit is worth the effort

By RICHARD A. ROSS

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Ann Higgins of Sundown, NY is 75 years young. Visiting the Liberty Fitness Center three times a week for workouts has helped her maintain her flexibility, reflexes and fine state of health. (Click for larger image)

LIBERTY, NY — On a rainy Labor Day morning, local artist Ann Higgins showed up as usual for her Monday aerobics class only to discover (to her disappointment) that it was cancelled due to a holiday lack of attendance.

Higgins, 75, is in wonderful shape and attributes her clean bill of health from the doctor to her regimen of exercise. Three times a week, she makes the half-hour plus trip from her home in Sundown, NY to the Liberty Fitness Center.

On Monday, she takes basic aerobics with Pilates, a program developed in the 1920s by the legendary physical trainer and founder of the Pilates Studio™, Joseph H. Pilates. The method is an exercise system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the total body without building bulk. Not surprisingly, some of the first people to use the Pilates Method were dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine.

In the Monday morning class taught by Jackie Hamlin, several other seniors normally accompany Higgins. After a three-to-five-minute warm-up, the exercise gets progressively more strenuous. Later, the pace slows, allowing the heart rate of the exercisers to gradually slow down.

On Wednesday morning at 9:30, Higgins takes a step class taught by Lenore Smith. The step work is high impact and Higgins loves it. “I get twice as much for my effort and feel great after the workout,” she said. With great reflexes and flexibility for her age, Higgins experiences no problems with her knees or other joints.

Her husband John did have a hip replacement, but that hasn’t stopped the former bodybuilding champion from coming to The Liberty Fitness Center regularly to work out with the weights. “Sometimes I join him and do some work with weights as well as squats,” Higgins said.

According to Cynthia Fracasse, Liberty Fitness Center owner, “they are both in amazing shape.”

This past summer, Higgins also came to the gym on Thursday mornings for a boxercise class taught by Paulo Fonseca. Fracasse will take over that slot beginning this week and teach a class that will feature a combination of low and high impact step work.

“My doctor is very pleased with my state of health,” said Higgins, who also walks for 45 minutes every day. “The exercise helps to keep my weight down too, but of course you still have to push yourself away from the table.”

Higgins is not deterred by the winter weather. If the roads are OK, she’ll be found at the gym. “I’ve been active my whole life,” said the willowy artist, and one look at her reveals the results.

For more information about yoga, dance and other classes available for seniors at The Liberty Fitness Center, call 845/292-0756.