As a chiropractor and personal trainer, I have great respect for the body. I am amazed at how the body adapts to its stresses and grows in order to get stronger and more functional. It was this love and admiration of the body that lead me to create “Happy Hearts.” Happy Hearts was a strength training class I developed for the elderly population who lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, home to the University of New Brunswick. While pursuing my Masters degree in the Science of Kinesiology I decided to volunteer my services and attempt to increase the fitness of the local seniors. In doing so I booked out our University weight room and created a two day per week weight training program, (Tuesday and Thursday at 10am-11:30). I also arranged for a aerobics class to be taught by a peer of mine for Monday, Wednesday and Friday to improve their lung capacity and overall fitness. When the ads were placed an instantaneously huge response occurred and our classes were full within a week. The experience that occurred definitely changed my mindset of the elderly, and my life.
Initially, the seniors were nervous and uncomfortable with the foreign surroundings, weights, mirrors, the smell, etc… however after a few jokes and laughs and demonstrations, and jokes again all was calm and entertaining. Soon the seniors began to intermix with one another, making connections, telling stories, telling jokes, etc… In time we grew to a very happy group of friends, even going out to dinner together, (they treated me because I was a poor student). The camaraderie that developed was amazing but what was even more amazing was the transformation their bodies and minds took. One senior, we’ll call her Stella, came in to class in very poor shape. Stella was 87, was very gaunt, very week and had a difficult time walking, and most of all very shy. I took Stella under my wing and provided a lot of one-on-one attention, and acted as her personal trainer throughout the session. Over the weeks Stella started to notice that her strength was improving, walking was becoming easier, and most of all I noticed her socializing with the group more. Stella, a native of Germany, began to tell me of some of the horrors that were experienced in Nazi Germany, and her family life,etc.. she really began to open up. To make a very long story short after 8 months training with me and the group Stella was a completely changed woman! She was now able to open jars with her own hands, work around the house with ease, lift the vacuum up the stairs by herself, walked 5km per week in the park ( which I accompanied her on the cold/icy days), and most of all had met friends to talk to and enjoy their company. Stella is just one story of many, and it doesn’t seem to do it justice to write it on a blog, it has to be told in person to experience the excitement that we all enjoyed together.
In short, my “Happy Hearters” all improved dramatically in their physical fitness, functionality and, possibly most important, their confidence. (Ask me about a senior who began wearing bright yellow sports bras to work out in while her husband stared in admiration!). I too learned much from this marvelous experience, that the body is an amazing adaptable organism, and that physical fitness is never too late at any age. I hope I can be as happy as these seniors when it’s my turn to tease a young student and help him make his life decisions.
ChiropracticUSA is located at 1004 Anna Knapp Blvd, ste 1. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Please call 843-881-0046 for further information or an appointment.
Dr. Matthew Murrin, DC, BSc Kin, PFLC, CEP
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