Does your body need to be recalled?

Everywhere we turn we hear about the benefits of exercise and how it can help our health and the quality of our life.

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But the question for many people, especially sedentary individuals, is what kind of exercise is safe for me to do and where can I find it. There are many kinds of exercise and exercise programs. One of the important aspects of starting any exercise program is starting off slowly and gradually building up your exercise level. The Henry County Extension Service will again be offering a proven, tested method of easy exercise that is designed especially for the over 50 bunch. The program is called Body Recall, a lifetime fitness program for the “living longer” population.
As the name indicates, Body Recall is a call back, a revival, a renewal of the movements learned or experienced in youth. The exercises are designed to reclaim the variety of movement and the strength that helps make living pleasurable. It is a movement education class based on the idea that with regular exercise everyone functions better. It helps us maximize our movement potential by focusing on what we can do. It teaches us that movement helps us to maintain independence.

The movements of Body Recall are smooth, slow and deliberate. The class incorporates activities that work on flexibility, range of motion of joints, muscle tone, strength, balance, posture, and coordination. Body Recall is not a fast paced aerobic workout and should be safe for most individuals. Use good common sense though, if you have any serious health concerns be sure to check with your doctor before enrolling.

The exercises are done seated in a chair, standing with and without support, and seated on the floor. The use of other apparatus, such as foam balls, elastic ropes, a parachute, and wands, along with the exercise movements and music adds to the variety of the class.

The program began in 1978 at Berea College and was developed by Dorothy Chrisman, a Professor of Physical Education. Since the beginning of the program there have been over 1500 teachers trained who have taught or are teaching Body Recall in 47 states. The program has been recognized by the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and the AARP.

Our next full 10-week program which is generally taught on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30 until 11:15 will begin March 2 at the Extension Office(call for a complete schedule 845-2811). There is a $30 charge for first timers. This includes the Body Recall text book which is an integral part of the class.

Also if you know of someone who cannot afford the fee we do have a few scholarships available. If you aren’t sure the program is for you stop by and try it out for free.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin