WESTON — Participants in the exercise class Friday morning at Birchwood Highlands senior apartments were all sitting, but they were breathing hard.
That was the point of the exercise: They were taking deep breaths while at the same time raising their arms high in the air and extending their legs in front of them. The move is designed to help keep their lungs vibrant, limbs strong and minds relaxed. The deep-breath move came at the end of the class, which included a variety of exercises aimed at keeping senior bodies stronger and flexible.
“You move all the parts,” said Gayla Marco, 78, a resident at the apartments. “I had a stroke, so all this helps me keep active.”
A few miles away and a few hours later, 11-year-old Owen Latendresse, a fifth-grader at Evergreen Elementary School in Kronenwetter, participated in that school’s Jump Rope for Heart initiative, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Owen jumped intensely for a 30 seconds or so, then would either miss the jump or take a rest, breathing hard. Then he’d jump again.
Marco and Owen may not have a lot in common, but last week they both were competitors in a unique intergenerational fitness contest. Organized by health advocates for both youngsters and oldsters, the Spring Into Fitness Activity Challenge pitted two classes of Evergreen students against the residents of Birchwood Highlands. Whomever accumulated the most minutes of activities from May 5 through Friday would win the contest.
The two teams worked out on their own. But they’ll come together for a fitness party at Evergreen Elementary School on Friday, where the winner will be announced. The celebration also will include healthy snacks, an activity class and, likely, some exchange of fitness tips.
The student competitors are the classes of fourth-grade teacher Sara Widmann and fifth-grade teacher Cheryl Goetsch.
“One thing I saw was kids talking their parents into exercising with them. … A lot of them were doing things as a family, which is great,” Widmann said.
Camille Reger, 10, a fourth-grader, said she had been “trying to take runs or walks. I’d go with my sister because she knows the neighborhood.”
The competition was developed by a network of groups: Safe Kids Wausau Area, Marathon County Health Department and Lifeline as a way to encourage people of all age to be more active.
Marco said she’s pulling for the seniors to win. But overall, being active is it’s own reward for her. “It just makes me feel better,” she said.
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