Esther Garrett gamely lunges forward onto her bent left leg, stretching the right one and holding it for a slight count.
" . . . Nine, ten and relax," Maggie Roberts calls out in the background.
Clive Garrett stretches his legs while he sits, too tired after more than 90 minutes of exercise to stand any longer.
They are 94 and 97 years old, respectively, the senior members of an already senior exercise class at Columbus Community Center, where 24 people in their 70s, 80s and 90s gather at least twice a week to improve their stamina, flexibility, strength and general health.
The classes are the brainchild of Janet R. Shaw, an assistant professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Utah. As part of their assignment in her 4900-level "Physical Activity Programming in the Community" class at the U., some 60 students have broken into teams to take fitness classes to senior centers and day-care centers, among other venues.
The focus on youth and the elderly is a direct response to a surgeon general's report that those two populations are woefully under-exercised. And further impetus has come from research showing that senior citizens can maintain muscle tone, something once thought not to be the case. Not to mention the overall health benefits of staying flexible, active and involved.
The staff at Columbus Community Center, 2500 South and 500 East in South Salt Lake, said the program's popularity has been phenomenal.
"I'm not one for superlatives, but they have taken such an interest in the seniors. And the seniors absolutely adore them. It started with seven or eight in the class and is up to 24. Seniors will not miss the class. And many of them stay from one class to the one that follows."
Shaw credits the "magic mixes of participants and students" in the Columbus center's fitness program for its burgeoning popularity with senior citizens.
The students in that "magic mix" are Nicole Wilkinson, Spencer Nielsen and Tyler Barker in an early morning class, followed by Charles Lwin, David Young and Roberts in the pre-lunch class. Each group shows up three times a week. And when one session follows another, many of the seniors stay for both.
Roberts is actively recruiting friends to take over when the semester ends and the class is passed on to a new crop of students.
"I'm going to miss them so much," she said. "I was scared about working here. I thought they would be a hard population to work with."
She figured they'd be hard to get motivated. That a handful would show up and they'd have to be coaxed into working out. It hasn't been the case.
The students, planning the class, decided to start the seniors out slow, Lwin said, designing an exercise program that featured "sitting down" every other routine. Then they sat them down every third routine. People who have stamina or mobility problems can do almost every exercise while sitting down, if needed.
This week, there was very little sitting as the senior citizens did lunges and boxing blocks, stretches and shoulder rotations, even toe touches. Steadying themselves with a hand on the back of their chairs, they stood tall on one leg and spelled their last names with their other foot. Then they did the "balance challenge," where they tried to balance on one leg as long as Lwin could do a handstand.
"If you can't touch your toes, touch your shoes," Roberts told them. "It's no big deal; but whatever you can get hold of."
While she leads the senior citizens in exercises, Lwin works with Ron Lund, 70, who eight years ago had a stroke and has since relied on a wheelchair.
It was during the fitness class that Lund first took tentative steps. Now, he's able to get up and walk for a few minutes almost every session, supported by Lwin or Young.
"The first time we saw it, we cried," said Thompson.
Lwin and Young had been working on keeping his muscles stretched. And Lwin noticed that his leg muscles still had some strength. "I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask if he wanted to try to walk," Lwin said.
It's not the only amazing story to come out of the group. A woman who has long had asthma has lost weight through the program and hasn't needed asthma medication for two months. A woman who is dying of cancer can now stand up, holding onto a chair, Thompson said.
Some of the routines are modified for the participants' age and skill levels. Push-ups, for instance, are done against a wall or stage. But by the end of the hour, even younger fitness buffs are "feeling the burn," as Roberts calls it.
"How many people your age can say they just did 20 push ups?" she asks.
The class ends with a spry rendition of the hokey-pokey, then the seniors gather around the students.
"I'm pooped," said Laverne Mitchell. "I did two (classes) today. I love it."
Helen Dotterer usually goes line dancing on Mondays, but this time, she stopped by the class. Patsy Jones has never missed a session.
"This is like being privy to something very special," said Thompson.
E-mail: lois@desnews.com