We asked some active seniors at Elmhurst Park District’s Abbey Senior Center and Schaumburg Park District’s Community Recreation Center :
‘Why do you take classes?’
Here’s what they had to say:
Joyce Bartels, 71, Lombard —
“I take the tai chi class because I had extensive back surgery not quite a year ago. I need to exercise to keep supple and limber. I wanted something at the Elmhurst Park District that was a little less strenuous than the immediate therapy had been.”
Karen Dirmish, 69, Elmhurst —
“I’m taking a year-long quilting class that meets once a month at a quilting business in Willowbrook. I take classes because I want to learn more things and you can never know enough. You have to keep your mind sharp, always challenge it and learn something new.”
Howard Falardeau, 82, Hoffman Estates —
“With tai chi, you have to concentrate a lot. When you get older you forget things so tai chi improves the mind. I also do the class for flexibility, too, because it’s a nice slow exercise that’s easy on the muscles. I’m not getting any younger so I need that help.”
Lois Foster, 62, Schaumburg —
“I’m a graduate student and a research assistant at DePaul University working on a writing project about the restorative process with ex-offenders. For the last 10 years, I have been working with inmates and ex-offenders. I’m also a dancer and have always been active so in this stage of my life, I find that tai chi is a wonderful way to still use my body to move and be graceful and flexible. It gets me out of the house and away from the computer.”
Dick Jaworski, 67, Schaumburg —
“To keep my body moving and my joints loose. I’ve been doing tai chi for a year. It keeps me limber and relaxes me.”
Bobbie Kane, 82, Hoffman Estates —
“My balance is very bad and (one of my doctors) wanted me to take a tai chi class. I also went to my general practitioner and he thought tai chi would be very helpful to me. I had a stroke and my balance is just shot. I’m hoping that tai chi will help me with my balance.”
Paul King, 68, Schaumburg —
“I want to keep my weight under control. I have diabetes so it’s especially important to keep your weight under control, be flexible and stay healthy. I’ve been taking tai chi for five months. I like it because it’s like doing slow aerobics. It’s very gentle on the body but you’re still getting good exercise.”
Diane Kliner, 77, Schaumburg —
“I take aerobic classes mostly to stay limber and healthy. I’ve been taking them for 20 years. I also like being with my friends. It’s a wonderful social thing.”
Kim Langel, 53, Schaumburg —
“I take the aerobics class called Club 55 Fitness Unlimited with my mother Diane. I had a medical issue, which was a fatty liver. My mother wanted me to come and try the aerobics class. I put it off for years. When I learned I had the health problem, I wanted to try the class. I thought it was going to be nice and easy. It’s not; it’s a good workout. I feel that it’s as good as any other program. My liver is fine now.”
Sheila Lewis, 69, Elmhurst —
“They get me motivated. For example, I took a class at the library about downloading your e-books. Actually, I thought it was kind of difficult. My daughter’s a librarian and she was helping me.”
Richard Marquardt, 69, Schaumburg, a tai chi instructor —
“I take additional tai chi classes in Elk Grove Village. I started with this exercise about 16 years ago because I had a back problem. Doing tai chi was a good recommendation for loosening up my spinal area. After my back problem disappeared after taking the exercise, I became more involved in the exercise by becoming a student instructor and then an instructor. I take tai chi for not only health benefits but it also keeps the mind active. By my teaching it, I have to be more elaborate.”
Roberta Spengler, 69, Lombard —
“I’ve taken a couple of sessions of this particular tai chi class at Elmhurst Park District. I like it because physically and mentally it’s on a low-stress level. It seems to be effective. The exercises are something that I can easily do at home in a reasonable length of time.”
