Hi, I'm Chris Jones, and I'm on the Committee for the Body & Spirit Program here at Rutgers. At our last meeting, I suggested that we, the committee members, sit in on a Body & Spirit class so that we might better be able to communicate to you, the congregation, what goes on here in this program. All my kids had participated and thrived in the children's Body & Spirit classes, so I decided to check out one of the adult classes. Which one to observe, though. I glanced through the brochure: ACTING – no, PILATES – no, YOGA – no, KNITTING – no, SENIOR FITNESS ... I'm a Senior ... and Fitness: I could use some of that. SENIOR FITNESS, THAT'S THE ONE FOR ME!
I take you back in time now to 1961. I am 13 years old. And I love comic books. My favorite is Amazing Stories. There's one issue that makes a huge impression on me. A scientist is searching for the key to longevity. After several abortive attempts, he seizes on the following: Question – What lives longer than anything else on earth? Answer – the Sequoia Tree. Somewhere within the "nature" of the sequoia lives the answer to the longevity problem. The scientist injects himself with cellular material from a sequoia, confident that he will live for centuries. Soon, however, he begins to SLOW DOWN and is horrified when his feet start to take root. "NOOOOOO!" he shouts, "I'm turning into a TREEEE!" They don't call them Amazing Stories for nothing.
Let's jump forward now to April of 2004. My wife and I are in a neurologist's office. Trying to find out what's gone haywire with my motor skills. Why does it take so long to button my shirt, deal a hand of cards, write a check? After an hour and a half of tests, the doctor smiles and a little too cheerfully, I think, informs me, "Well, you have Parkinson's." "You're kidding," I hear myself inanely say. "No," he replies. I am literally SLOWING DOWN. I am metaphorically TURNING INTO A TREE. Amazing Stories indeed.
Alright, come with me now to Senior Fitness. I decided not to observe the class but to take it. By most standards, it's probably pretty gentle, but I find it to be RIGOROUS. The stretches and movements are geared toward flexibility. Good for Parkinson's. Good for me. I feel so good after one class, I take five more. The overall focus seems to be on lifting the spine. This makes for a larger space inside me. This creates room for a new spirit to enter me. I find I have more hope. Not so much for the future. More like hope for today. To me it's a Godsend. This is my witness then.
It is my hope that many of you will try the Body & Spirit Program. And find as I have a beneficent effect. To help you take the first step, our committee is pleased to offer you a free one-hour class. Pick up a brochure [or visit us online: www.rutgerchurch.com/bodyandspirit] and see for yourself what Rutgers is doing in this wonderful program.