A diminutive, silver-haired girl stood on the entrance of the parish corridor sporting red-rimmed glasses and a T-shirt with the phrases “Private Coach” printed on the again. She stood going through 20 or so seniors, every positioned subsequent to a chair with train tools — weights, a strap and a rainbow-colored ball.
The girl, Jenny Grover, referred to as out directions for various strikes, every tailor-made to assist the attendees forestall falls, strengthen their arthritic fingers and toes, and to remain in form total. “Sit straight, heels up, transfer your fingers like windshield wipers. I’m watching, George,” she referred to as.
Every Wednesday morning, Grover, 85, leads an train class as a part of the Blessed Sacrament Seniors Well being Ministry in Alexandria. The Puerto Rican mom of two, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of 14 first labored for the federal government earlier than working at Shrine of the Sacred Coronary heart in Washington and Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria. “Then I made a decision to cease, and begin exercising and serving to individuals,” she stated.
After years of volunteering at a gymnasium, final yr she grew to become an authorized well being coach and nutritionist with particular coaching in senior health. She started main the Blessed Sacrament train class earlier this yr. Grover additionally encourages seniors to eat properly and gives sources for wholesome consuming, noting that train solely does a lot when it’s not paired with good meals.
She’s hoping to assist different parishes begin their very own well being ministries, believing it’s key to serving to seniors thrive. When older individuals begin to really feel weak and frail, they cease going out with buddies, stated Grover. That isolation can result in loneliness and psychological decline. “You go downhill,” she stated. “I like doing (lessons) at anyplace the place I may help any mature individual, as a result of I’d like (for) them to dwell an impartial life surrounded by household and buddies and every thing they love.”
Donna Reuss, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, was invited to the category by a buddy. “It’s encouraging to see so many individuals out right here, making an attempt issues even when they’ll’t fairly do it. It’s a very good exercise for me as properly,” she stated. “I see it as honoring your physique. Your physique is a temple, and having (train class) in a church provides one thing spiritually motivating to it.”
One other participant, Barbara Verdi, determined to focus extra on exercising after present process open coronary heart surgical procedure. Although she additionally joined a gymnasium, she has a greater monitor document of displaying as much as Blessed Sacrament. “Simply the ambiance on the whole may be very good,” she stated. “I totally take pleasure in this class. It’s been an enormous profit for me, bodily and emotionally.”