Where do active seniors in Muncie meet for fun, fitness, and fellowship? The following are a few favorites.
The Northwest YMCA
A popular Muncie fixture for strength training, basketball, tennis and group exercise, the Northwest Y at 3500 North Chadam Lane has served the community for three decades.
Liz Whittern, a 20-year Y instructor, has taught everything from spinning to STEP. Several of her students have gone on to become certified fitness teachers themselves. Now 69, Whittern defies age due to consistent workouts such as biking, golf and pickleball. She currently teaches cardio strength at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“I’m not too crazy about being in the senior fitness category,” said Whittern. “I have ladies in their 20s and up who take my class regularly. I think of it as ‘forever fit,’ which targets women of any age.”
Chris Ruh, a faithful member of Whittern’s class, admires her dedication and expertise.
“She makes the class challenging but fun,” said Ruh, who is in her 70s. “I take it so I can stay active and keep up with life.”
The Yorktown YMCA
Located on South 600 West, the Yorktown Y is a convenient facility for the close-knit community and beyond.
One of its more popular classes is Zumba Gold, offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Its focus is older, active adults, between 50 and 90-plus. Sharon Kuzma has been teaching the class since 2009. A collegiate cheerleader who learned to play tennis and golf as an adult, Kuzma found Zumba an easy and exciting transition from her regular routine.
“The combination of fitness and dance made it a perfect blend,” said the energetic 70-year-old, who is a living testament to the mantra, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Some class members have been with Kuzma for 14 years.
“My goal is to make the class welcoming, joyful and uplifting,” Kuzma said. “The music, friendly atmosphere and fellowship encourage people to keep coming back. Deep friendships are forged, and people have expressed how much healthier they’ve become.”
Yorktown’s Zumba Gold participants revel in holidays such as Halloween, when they dress to the hilt and are offered treats after class.
The ebullient Kuzma has appeared as a Cheeto, She-Wolf, and Monarch butterfly.
“Sharon is what Zumba Gold is all about,” explained longtime class member Jeff Benson. “She is an inspiration to everyone who joins the class. During COVID she even found ways to get us all together, dancing – six feet apart, of course!”
Muncie YWCA
The YWCA, a longstanding Muncie institution, is located at 310 East Charles Street. It features an emergency shelter for women in addition to children’s advocacy, the “In Her Heels” Fundraiser, and the Twice as Nice resale boutique. The Y now also offers a line-dancing class taught by Michigan transplant Felecia Rice.
“It’s not necessarily a class per se,” said Rice, 59. “We do a lot of socializing, and if the ladies want to dance, we dance.”
Rice has been active her entire life, culminating in her current venture, Felecia TLC Catering. “I get lots of steps with that!” she said with a laugh.
Her business and dance class dovetail perfectly, with Rice providing a charcuterie board for each class, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“We have all ages,” explained Rice, who rotates the dances among hip-hop, country and R&B. “Everyone has input into what we do. If someone is attending a wedding reception, we’ll focus on those dances.”
Carolyn Grieves is a faithful attendee. “I have made new friends through exercising,” she said. “I am laughing, having fun and relaxing.” Grieves’ sleep cycles have even improved.
Rice believes that moving as seniors is crucial to optimum health.
“As long as God gives me the strength in my body to move, “I’m going to move,” she said.
Cornerstone Center for the Arts
Cornerstone Center for the Arts, located at 520 East Main Street, offers education, workshops, dance, martial arts and ceramics programming for all ages. It’s also a coveted venue for entertainment options and celebrations such as weddings and graduation open houses.
Popular classes for all ages, including seniors, include hip-hop, jazz and ballet.
Former Central High School Latin teacher Hanna Waechter, 65, has studied dance on and off since age 7. She’s taken adult ballet for 10 years, meeting Mondays at 7 p.m. Class members include 20-somethings to seniors.
“I love it,” said Waechter. “It’s what I enjoy doing.”
Although she works out at the gym once a week, Waechter said she finds it “incredibly boring” compared to dance. “Our teacher, Juniper Violet, makes it fun and is great at adapting the class to different levels,” she said.
Waechter attends class with her daughter, Angela Dailey, and loves the bonding that occurs when they attend together.
“I look forward to the class every week,” said Waechter.
