By: AMFC Staff
It’s been quite some time now – a generation worth – since the Avera Wellness Program was housed in the hospital’s basement. Jackie Haggar-Tuschen, our AMFC Center Director oversaw the wellness program and also taught group exercise back then. (Are you picturing leg warmers, sweat bands, leotards, white socks and shoes for all?!)
AMFC member, Carol Brown, remembers those classes fondly. In fact, she has happy memories of exercise throughout her life. Exercise is a sanctuary and a recharger for her. “Exercise makes me feel good,” says Carol, “my job work was stressful, so exercise really helped me relieve stress and keep a balance that way, and I used to worry about my weight too.”
Carol was nominated as an AMFC Fitness Hero by personal trainer and group exercise instructor, Glenda Baker. Glenda and Carol spent quite a bit of time in the therapy pool together beginning in 2011 when Carol began having problems with pain in her back. The pain got bad enough that a nerve root block was required and there was talk of surgery, which she very much wanted to avoid. She did avoid surgery for which she gives great credit to consistent therapeutic exercise practice and that passage is history. Now, her goal is to take swimming lessons from Tonya Schoenfelter and become a confident swimmer. Currently, her exercise routine includes Monday, Wednesday & Friday water class in the morning and Tuesday and Thursday, Joni’s “Just Stretch” classes at 10am. Carol likes both water and land mindbody classes like Strength & Balance because “they work muscles I don’t usually work and are great for building balance,” she says.
Carol likes to challenge herself and learn new things in all aspects of her life, including health and fitness. It all works together. So she loves to participate in incentives like Rush to the Heisman as a way to be competitive with herself and rise to a new challenge. She credits her commitment to exercise, health and fitness with enhancing and making possible travel around the world. China, Australia, New Zealand, safaris in Africa (her favorite), have all been possible and enjoyable she says, because of her strength, stamina, endurance, energy and general good health – all fostered by regular exercise and balance in diet and life. She also likes to study new things, learn, socialize, play mahjong and volunteer.
Thank you Carol for sharing your story and for being a shining example of the richness of life that is nurtured by a steady commitment to health and fitness every day.
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