|
Martial arts have taught me that the human spirit responds to challenge. If we free our minds of our own expectations, we leap out of the confines placed on us by ourselves and others. One person who has taught me a great deal about the human spirit is my friend Jeanne. She is kind, gentle, and has a core of complete determination. Jeanne is truly her own person, and at 78 the refinement of her spirit shines out in her sincere kindness and conern for others and her faith in God. When a broken knee put her off her feet for a couple months, she agreed to start lifting weights with me to improve her health and strength. |
|
|
I'm sorry that this picture is not more clear. This is Jeanne on the chest press machine. Though I prefer free weights for myself, I use the machines with Jeanne. Jeanne was 76 when she started weight training with me, and even though I want her to lift to the best of her ability, I like the safety of the machines for seniors who are new to weight training. By systematic and regular training twice a week, Jeanne has doubled (in some exercises tripled) the amount of weight she can move on most machines. Like most seniors, she responds incredibly well to systematic weight training. Her strength, mobility, and vitality have improved. |
|
As you can see from this picture, Jeanne loves weight training more than she loves anything else. (Well, maybe I exaggerate .. . . ) She is hamming it up for the camera. In real life, we practice good posture and good control in lifting weights: a straight back, level head, and smooth breathing are essential. |
|
|
|
This nice couple from the gym was happy to pose with Jeanne. She wasn't quite sure how to stand to accent her bicep. I tell her she is the strongest little old lady Presbyterian in Raleigh. As you can see from the picture, dedicated atheletes are willing to open the doors of training to anybody who wants to work hard and learn the craft. Prejudice against the elderly is far more prevalent outside the gym than inside the gym. Once you pass through those doors, you enter a world where hard work and dedication matter more than the restrictions of age, mindset, or prejudice. |
|