Exercise class for seniors isn't for the faint of heart

Apparently, Sam Freeman Jr. knows, since he’s been doing just that three times a week for 14 years.

You can find about 100 — yes, 100 — seniors marching in place and doing stretching and strengthening moves in the gym at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, on East Broadway, as Freeman hollers directions.

“Everybody sit down,” he says, then, teasingly: “Hurry up, Liz, you’re holding the class up.”

Freeman leads the group through a circuit of strength exercises, with everyone moving in time to his counts. They use small, colorful weights and stretchy bands; some sit in chairs, while others stand in front of them.

“I work the snot out of everybody,” Freeman said with a chuckle. “It’s not all easy.”

Freeman, 72, a trained physical therapist, said doctors send people to his class for therapy after surgeries.

Bobbie Guillory, 75, started going to the class to prepare for a knee operation.

“It was so great that after I had the surgery I told my doctor, ‘I’m not going over to the hospital for their therapy; I’m going back to my class,’ and I did because it was way better.”

Freeman provides three different ways to do each movement, depending on participants’ ability.

“You can do everything in the chair that you can do standing up,” he said.

Kay Musser, 63, said, “My favorite part of the class is the explanations as to what your muscles are doing and how to work out the muscles for your needs. It is instant gratification.”

During class most of the students are quiet and attentive — except for one unruly group in the corner chatting and giggling.

“They sit at home all the time and they have nobody there but themselves. So they come to class and they get together,” Freeman said. “They start doing things together.”

The “socialization is priceless,” said Marylee Vergara, 67. “You get to use your smile muscles.”

Freeman jokes with people as he corrects their movements or reprimands them for talking. His loud laugh is infectious, and he won’t allow anyone to be isolated, introducing those sitting alone to others in the class.

“Oh, I love coming here,” said Mayre Miller, 82. “It’s a social thing, too. At first it wasn’t because I didn’t know anybody, but then after a while, it gets to be a family here.”

Miller, a small woman with short, pearl-white hair, has been exercising in Freeman’s class since 2004. She’s had back surgery and is now undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Working with Freeman in the group class and doing home exercises he taught her helped relieve her back pain and got her walking, albeit with a cane.

“I feel like I should stay strong. Coming here helps me keep up my stamina.”

Freeman, who said his favorite part is the rehabbing, started the stretching and strengthening class in 1999 as a member of the church’s senior committee, or “Savvy Seniors.”

“The one thing that we don’t have is exercise. This is one thing that everybody needs, especially seniors,” he said.

There were 25 people at the first session.

“We decided to give it a try for six weeks,” Freeman said with a laugh. Fourteen years later, the class is still going strong.

It’s free, though Freeman asks for a $1 donation. The money goes toward helping class members, to the church or to community organizations.

“We do whatever needs to be done. We do whatever comes up,” Freeman said.

He knows almost everyone’s name and hugs people as they leave.

“I’m on dialysis. Most people on dialysis become weak and depressed,” said Marian McCastle, 85. “I started the class long before I started dialysis, but now I depend on this class to keep me going, to keep me up, to keep me strong.”

McCastle has been going to Freeman’s class for almost three years, but many have been exercising with him for more than 10 years.

“I think it is special. There are people here with walkers and people here who are handicapped in different ways,” she said.

Class participants can’t emphasize enough the class’s camaraderie and Freeman’s way of motivating people.

Although Pat Argenziano, 71, calls Freeman “mean old Sam,” he conceded: “This is a really good class. I feel good coming to the class.”