An Exercise Story

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Name: Stella
Age: 76
Location: Missouri
Activity: Aerobics, Dancing, Swimming

I began exercising in my late 40's, after I had a hysterectomy. I've been exercising ever since, almost thirty-years now. I exercise three days a week at the local gym for about 3 hours at a time, taking classes in low impact aerobics, chair aerobics, and aqua aerobics. I also do tap and line dancing there two days a week. My low impact class is taught by an 86-year-old who also leads us through mat work where we do sit-ups and leg lifts. In chair aerobics, we sit down and work our shoulders and neck, lean forward, and lift our legs. Aqua aerobics gives me time in the water, and I usually swim a few laps on my own after the class is over. I really like swimming, even though I only learned how to swim when I was 59. I believe that exercise helps me keep my weight down and helps me with my breathing. It also keeps my legs strong, which is very important as you get older.