‘Eldercise’ group marks 10 years

By Mary Grothause, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Wednesday, March 12, 2008 (4 months, 1 week ago)
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The “Eldercise” Class at the Delphos Senior Citizens Center moves and grooves to the music. Class members meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 10-10:45 a.m. to practice flexibility and stretching exercises.DELPHOS — No, they are not Senior Rockettes or a group of Tai Chi students but as they gracefully stretch their limbs and point their toes, it makes you wonder who these ladies really are.
The 18 members of the “Eldercise” class at the Delphos Senior Citizens Center meet from 10-10:45 a.m. twice a week to work through flexibility and mobility exercises.
Instructor Cathy Heitmeyer leads the class on Mondays and “substitute” instructor Gertrude Ernst leads the class on Thursdays.
Ernst, 90 years young, is one of the members who has faithfully attended classes for the 10-year period it has been in existence.
“I never miss a class,” she said, while smoothly following all the other ladies rotating their dancing canes.
LaDonna Eggeman, 91, also an original class member, enjoys all the exercises and being all decked out in red shirts and straw hats.
Heitmeyer, who has taught the Delphos class for 10 years, teaches a similar class in Ottoville.
“It all started 14 years ago when I worked at Paradise Oaks. Eldercise consists of stretching movements, using a soft ball and a cane and sometimes we do floor exercises, too,” she said.
These golden-agers proved the “point” when they held onto the back of a chair, stood on one foot and executed an elegant ballet movement.
Maybe these old dogs can teach the young pups a thing or two about growing old gracefully.

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