Marty Acuff, 64, has been taking Zumba for the past year at the Carter Senior Center. She said the dancing aerobics class fits nicely into her schedule, which also includes strengthening and cardio fitness classes five days a week.

"It's been a godsend for me," said Acuff, a diabetic. "I found it was helping me with my joints and weight."

The Strawberry Plains woman has lost 33 pounds.

"If I don't exercise I know it, and I miss it," she said. On a recent Monday at the Carter Senior Center, she was prepared to leave her exercise class a few minutes early so she could change into her bathing suit to go to a water Zumba class at another location.

When it comes to the Baby Boom generation, it's not just bingo and card games at today's senior centers.

Hemal Tailor, director of senior services for Knox County, said the emphasis is now on exercise and health. "We have belly dancing, pi-yo and ballroom dancing," Tailor said. "The active programs are a lot more popular."

Seniors are no longer content to stay home.

"Job fairs are still very popular," Tailor said. "They want to be a continued presence in our community."

The centers also offer things like tai chi and line dancing and have movie and book clubs.

"They're always talking about the latest best-selling novel," she said. "They know what they want. And they'll tell you exactly what they're thinking. There's no holding back with them whatsoever."

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Active boomers redefine senior centers