Promoting good health for all ages

To The Editor:

This letter is in response to the letter written by Mae Littrell and printed in the Banner Graphic on July 17, 2013. She was expressing concern for the need of the elderly in Greencastle and the need for a place to exercise. She also mentioned being turned down at Curves because she could not exercise in street shoes.

We do have rubber padded recovery stations in the Curves club that can be easily damaged with street shoes. We also believe the athletic type of shoe provides additional support when exercising. We do, however, very much support senior citizen membership in our club along with the younger generation. Over 60 pecent of our membership is over 60 years old and our oldest member is a remarkable 91 years old. We are part of the Silver Sneaker membership program which promotes exercise for senior citizens and their membership is paid by their Medicare supplement insurance.

I believe the local Snap Fitness Center also covers this type of membership for seniors. I have several senior members whose husbands work out at Snap and also at the local Fit For Life Fitness Center. All of us, as owners, support senior membership overwhelmingly.

Autumn Glen offered a free senior workout program last fall for six weeks. Due to low participation they canceled the program. The Senior Center currently offers free exercise programs at least twice a week. This is a sit-down program and it is advertised in the Banner Graphic. This might possibly be more suited to Ms. Littrell. There are likely to be other programs I might not be aware of.

I believe the Greencastle community tries very hard to meet the fitness needs of the senior citizens. The local fitness centers welcome senior membership. For those, that cannot actually workout on certain equipment in a specific club I am sure their needs can be met somewhere in the community.

Exercise is indeed a key component to a healthy lifestyle, promoting longevity and quality of life.

All local fitness instructors encourage senior involvement and contradictory to Ms. Littrell's opinion, we do want to keep the green in Greencastle, as well as promote good health for all ages.

Rhonda Louderback

Curves Fitness Club owner