The way volunteer aerobics instructor Carmen Hemrick sees it, getting older is no reason to slow down. With retirement comes more leisure time, as well as the opportunity to use it to get active and focus on physical health.

Hemrick, 55, teaches aerobics at Christ the King Episcopal Church, 2800 W. Ina Road. Its the latest stop in her 30-year career.

A former Fitness ABC owner, Hemrick has taught at the YMCA and other locations around the area. A core group of about 20 women, many of whom are now in their 70s and 80s, have followed Hemrick at each stop.

I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing people sometimes people who havent exercised ever or hate exercise come in and discover its fun, Hemrick said. Theyll say My balance is so much better. Im able to walk a little bit farther. It also gives me satisfaction to have a lot of widows there who find friends. That makes me feel good because the class is enabling them to do that.

Hemrick offers hour-long classes three days a week. Her sessions contain elements of yoga, kickboxing, weight training, Zumba and step aerobics. She has a low-impact class designed for seniors and those not used to exercise. Students in that class sit in chairs as they work out.

Jeanette Maslowski, 69, has taken Hemricks classes for 20 years.

Its such a friendly group and she is such a caring person, Maslowski said of Hemrick. She just makes the classes good fun. We just love it.

Hemrick adapts well to each students needs, Maslowski said.

She tells us to go at our own pace and not do anything extreme, she said. She gives us advice on health issues and what we should do to compensate for difficulties.

Maslowski, who likes the classes so much that she often stays for a second class on the same day, meets with Hemrick and several other students for monthly luncheons.

Original post:
Aerobics instructor gets seniors moving, shaking