Published: Friday, August 24, 2012, 12:01 a.m.

He lives independently in a tidy Mukilteo condo, drives and still works a little.

His trim middle would put quite a few 20-somethings to shame.

"I see a lot of people younger than me with one foot in the grave," Peterson said.

His secret: exercise. In particular, he credits a fitness class he regularly attends at the Carl Gipson Senior Center in Everett.

It's called Enhance Fitness, and it blends low-impact aerobics, strength training, flexibility, balance and what instructor Vicki Cairns describes as "silliness."

What she means is her students have fun. They crack jokes, trade stories and support each other when times get tough.

The class is as much a social club as a workout. Many of those who show up end the class with a cup of coffee and conversation.

"It's physical health and mental health," Cairns said.

The class was developed by Senior Services of Seattle along with the University of Washington and Group Health Cooperative in the mid-1990s.

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Seniors credit their vitality to fitness class