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The Value of Exercise
“I never did any real exercise until I retired. In fact, except for swimming, I avoided exercise as much as possible. I was one of those kids always chosen last for teams. After I retired in 1992, I joined a walk and stretch type class at the local YMCA where I lived. My main reason for joining the class was for weight loss, not health. However, soon I noticed an increase in energy level too.
When I moved to ACV in 1997, I was thrilled that Copeland Community Center included a pool. I immediately joined the aquatics class and then a walking class. I have continued to participate ever since.
In September 2008, my doctor discovered a blockage in an artery that feeds my heart. I was very surprised, since I had only had recognizable symptoms while hiking in the hills of Michigan several weeks earlier.
I underwent a stent procedure that corrected the problem. My doctor told me that it had taken years for the blockage to develop, and that my exercise program (even though I started later in life) had saved me from a heart attack and resulting heart damage.
I am so thankful that I live in a place where these classes are offered, that they are based on good research and that they are fun. If they were not, I probably would have chosen not to participate and my quality of life would likely be much less than it is today.”
--Tib Henderson,
ACV Member