Residents find yoga a roaring success
Betty Kinzey, 93, Frankie Wootan, 83, Ruby Harkey, 90, and Blanche Roos, 91, practice the "Lion" recently during their yoga class at Evergreen Assisted Living in Sandpoint. The "Lion" works their throat and lung muscles, and provides a humorous moment as the class practices their roars, hisses and deep breathing. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)
SANDPOINT - "It makes us think."
"It keeps you limber."
"It keeps our bodies relaxed and healthy."
The answers came quickly from the people at Evergreen Assisted Living when asked what they liked most about Jane Fritz's twice-a-week yoga class.
While those answers could apply to a yoga class anywhere, they're much more meaningful coming from the 10 people who take Fritz's class on a regular basis. This is not your typical yoga class - far from it.
Eight of the regular attendees are more than 80 years old, and four of those are in their 90s. Yet there they are, going through a host of challenging exercises, most done from a chair, in the hopes of maintaining and improving their health.
"It gets to be a habit; keeps you from saying 'I can't,'" says Irma Russell, who says the class has helped her tremendously after breaking both of her hips last year. "You don't want to sit back and say 'I can't.'"
Relaxing music plays softly in the background as Fritz leads the class through breathing, stretching, posture and balance exercises. They do moves called "Tree," "Cat Pose," "Triangle," and "Lion," each done three times. One exercise has them all stand, cross their arms and grab their ears, before bending down and forward as far as each feels comfortable.
While the health benefits are lauded by everyone in the group, there is also another aspect of the class that is equally important.
"I like the sociability," says 91 year-old Blanche Roos. "It breaks up the monotony of the day."
Fritz, who volunteers her time to teach the class, says some days she has to round up the residents at Evergreen and provide some incentive to get them to her class. She also says the class has come far enough in seven months that when she can't make it, they teach the class themselves.
They end each class by doing some tai chi, then pressing their hands together, bowing to one another and saying "Namasté," which means "I honor the god in you." Fritz says she's amazed at how far some of the members have come and simply enjoys watching them do so well.
"If it wasn't for her …" says Iris Hines, 86, before changing her train of thought. "You want to write a story, write about her (Fritz) and that smile."