Seniors gets healthy and happy in exercise group

The Silver Sneakers, 24 strong at Atlanta's CHRISTUS St. Michael Heath and Fitness center, may look serious while working out, but in reality they are just waiting for someone to say something funny or make a strange move so that everyone will break out in noise.
The Silver Sneakers, 24 strong at Atlanta's CHRISTUS St. Michael Heath and Fitness center, may look serious while working out, but in reality they are just waiting for someone to say something funny or make a strange move so that everyone will break out in noise.

There's a bright silver lining behind Silver Sneakers, an exercise program at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health and Fitness Center in Atlanta

"We come together to exercise and laugh," instructor Teri Ray said. "Laughter doeth good, like a medicine."

Ray is right on, according to the Oct. 29 edition of Time magazine. It states the following:

"The new science shows that the secret to living longer can be surprisingly fun. People who combine exercise with their social lives may be at an advantage over solitary exercisers social connections are probably the single most important feature of living a long, healthy, happy life."

From the raucous laughter that occurred with the Silver Sneakers last week, their workout is making it easier to it stay healthy.

The senior exercise group is a unisex class with members ranging in age from 30 to 90. Its times are 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Some health insurance plans cover membership costs of the fitness center, but insurance coverage is not required to participate in Silver Sneakers.

Recently, the Sneakers held an exercise demonstration followed by a noontime potluck dinner to increase good feelings of friendship with one another. Most wore their Silver Sneaker T-shirts.

Exercise leader Ray told the group they were keeping her in better spirits all the time. It seems Silver Sneakers works even for those who may just be wearing ordinary sneakers.

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