Walking Log

Clip 1146
Paulette Cunningham/ center director of South West Senior Center
Q: About Program
10:11:46

This is one of our many fitness programs. This program that you are
witnessing now happens every Tuesday morning and Thursday morning at 10
am. At this fitness program it is set up to encourage seniors at all ages to
stretch and work out and to remain healthy
Q: program focused on walking?
12:12:15
This program is focused on walking and this group has walked into Center
City, Tinakal Park,
John Hines refuge and just in the general community just to encourage the seniors to walk and
build their endurance.
Q: other benefits?
10:12:46
We have seen in the past that this is a tremendous stress reducer, we have seen peoples blood
pressure, cholesterol go down, friendships form, relationships build between baby boomers and
our traditional older seniors come together and form a, a real foundation of friendship.
Q: sentence again.
10:13:17
We have seen baby boomers, our younger, older adults and our traditional older, frailer seniors
come together and form strong bonds, strong friendships.
Q: How important is it to have communities like this?
13:13:37
Its a major, major thing. Its very important. Now that we see an influx of the younger baby
boomers come in and we have for years provided programs specifically for the traditional older
members and both are coming into the same community and we want to make it possible for
both to interact with one another and enjoy programs together, ongoing.
Q: how important is the social aspect?
10:14:14
Its most important. I have seen over the years that this may be their only link to, especially the
older seniors, have somewhere to go, come to see, have friendships and services provided and
many times this is the only services that they get in the community is our senior center.

Q: Specific story?
10:14:39
I have seen people in their early 70s late 80s come and just be idle join this
particular fitness group walking and come not once or twice a week but 5
times a week. Because of the connection of friends, physically feeling better,

their attitude lifting uh, its just been a tremendous uh outreach for them.
Excellent really its been very successful.
Q: Anything else?
10:15:16
I think more people should know about this, senior centers throughout
Philadelphia how a wonderful they are, how they work and how they benefit
all of the older adults in the city from 60 and older
Q: again.
10:15:36
I think that the people in the city should understand how important the
senior centers through the city of Philadelphia and the services they provide
for the people 60 and older.

Clip 0386
Patricia Postell/ southwest member
I joined it because of the exercising and it has energized me so well. I just
feel so good and I dont feel my age.
Q: social aspect
11:17:42
Yes Ive meet so many nice people since Ive come here I just love coming
here.
Q: look forward to walking?
11:17:54
Because it gives you vigor you know energy. Yup and I love it.
Q: spirit of group?
11:18:06
Oh man, the spirit is great. Everybody get along and everybody exercising
together and just enjoying it.
Q: every think you would join a group like this when younger?
11:18:17
Nope. Well, earlier I did join an exercise, I always exercised and everything
and um when if out about this one, where they have the machines and
everything that you can work out with you know I was very interested in it.
And I really like it you know.
Q: feel the health benefits?
12:18:43

Yes, and when I go to the doctor all my sign everything is great. Great and
they say keep up the great work. You know cuz I told them that I, they said
you exercise and I said yes, yes and I walk a lot too, you know so thats good.

Clip: 039F
Sot of Barbara Garner/ southwest member
Q: walking group member?
11:20:30
Ive been a member of the southwest senior center for about 15 years and
any outing they provide I join. Its called get moving and get the bones
going.
Q: Benefit?
11:20:44
Actually a benefit would be it keeps your osteoporosis and arthritis feeling
much better and I have both.
Q: group to do with?
11:20:56
Talking is easier to walk with so we really flap our mouths a lot.
Q: support?
11:21:09
Well, the support being that I think everybody that youre talking to has or
knows somebody with the same ailments that you do so its kinda comradery
when youre talking about the same ailments.
Q: group improved lifestyle?
11:21:28
I think so, yes in that it improves my lifestyle by actually getting out with a
group and talking, socializing. You dont talk than you dont live much.

Clip: 40L2
SOT w/ Otila Jones, Fitness manager
Q: Importance of group?
11.24.32
Well, since were all seniors, uh the most we do is cardio. Even my gym and
what I teach is cardio. Mostly arm movement because we tend to not be able
to move our arms or our legs. I teach a lot of coordination because we lost
that and just make it fun. That the main thing. Make it fun because they tend
to come back.

Q: Why does your workout mainly focus on loosening up?

11.24.59
Well, again since we are seniors, we tend to stiffen up. We have Arthur as our
friend, so a lot of times we have to get Arthur out of our bones and fingers so
that we can move properly and its easier to move.
Q: Is working out easier with a group?
11.25.16
Exercise is a social thing. The average person will not exercise by
themselves. Most people buy equipment and it stays in their bedroom and
become a coat hanger so it is a group exercise. Most of the time you do more
than you think you can do because you dont even realize that time is flying.
Like youve seen on our walk, a lot of these people wouldnt walk that far by
themselves, but as a group and were running off at the mouth, we tend to
do more.
Q: Tell me about the conversations.
11.25.46
Well, we talk about everything. Youd be surprised, when we were young;
when we get old; what we want to do; how come we didnt see men in a
while. You know, a lot of things that people talk about. We just have fun.
Q: How important is it to incorporate fun?
11.26.00
If you want to have longevity and you want to do it all of the time, make it
fun. Otherwise, you will not show up. Most of these ladies show up and I do
four exercise classes at that gym and they show up because of the exercise.
A lot of them come for the exercise and then leave.
Q: How many people has it benefitted?
11.26.43
We have individuals that are off medication or at least the medication was
decreased. They were diabetic, they had high blood pressure, they were
taking arthritis medicine, and some cholesterol. Since they had been coming
for a while, they doses have went down.
Q: What do you get out of it?
11.27.02
I like to work. I am a retired individual and this is how I keep in shape.