“If you miss a day, you feel it,” said Demaris Verzulli.
She was speaking of the Body Conditioning Class that she has been attending with a core group of friends for the last 16 years. She said that missing a class means you feel it in your body, when you are not pushing yourself to stretch and improve your core….but also you miss the camaraderie of your friends.
In January of 2006, a new Physical Therapy business (formerly call Gananda-Walworth Physical Therapy) – now “Village Fitness” opened in the Gananda area, on Canandaigua Road in Macedon. The PT business also included a small gym. – mostly workout equipment – core training – no pool or fancy add-ons.
Owner Craig Rigney explained that, at the time of the opening, the gym and its exercise programs were mean to provide a focus on discharge of his PT (Physical Therapy) patients.
Current fitness instructor – an original member of the Body Conditioning group – Debbie Williamson, came to stay active and healthy.
The group, originally called a “Pilates” class was meant to focus on balance and stretching. The mostly over age-60 women (and two men) in the class have pushed through a great deal to remained together. They work out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 am at Village Fitness.
So, fitness and health is why they started – support and friendship was the gift they found.
The members: Mary Easton, Debbie Williamson, Linda Fisher, Demaris Verulli, Kathy Priest, Deb Ford, Donna Farguhar, Richard Cook, Jackie and Jim Conklin, Bonnie Winterton, Annette McDowell and Denese Price have seen each other through physical pain, deaths of spouses, cancer diagnoses, addition of grandchildren, vacation and family sharing events. The bond is strong, as are they.
The strength that permeates the bodies of these older women is intimidating. Their balance is awesome even to the younger work-out clients spying on their workout. There are yoga skills, major stretching and cooling exercises, balance and core workouts.
At the beginning, Debbie Williamson and Linda Fisher joined friends in the Pilates class under the training of Elizabeth Norton, who was hired by the PT group. When Elizabeth left, Linda filled in so that the class could continue uninterrupted. After Linda, came Kathy Reitz, who was a certified trainer, then Christine Holdraker, one of the fitness managers who took over for about a year and a half. When she left to have a baby, Marcia Petty stepped in for about 6 months. Marcia’s leaving was worrying…because no one had been hired to teach the class…and the members were worried about the demise of their group.
Debbie Williamson stepped up to “temporarily” fill in…so that the class would continue uninterrupted. She is still running the class today.
“I eventually took classes and got certified,” said Deb, “but any of us will fill in, if a vacation or illness threatens to slow us down.”
Linda Fisher definitely comes three days a week to keep ahead of her Rheumatoid Arthritis. “I just need to keep moving…and I like to do that.”
Most of the group are retired or working part time.
Jim and Jackie Conklin came as a couple to tryout the class. “My wife challenged me… She bet me that I could not keep up with these women…I am still here today.”
“We keep track of each other,” said Donna Farquhar. “If someone is not here, we call to check on them.”
‘Even when there comes a morning where I do not want to wake up and come in… I come. I always feel great afterwards,” Deb Williamson admitted.
The Body Conditioning Class welcomes others to join them (and try to keep up). “If we can do it, anyone can…but you can always modify the workout.” Linda Fisher noted.
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ROCHESTER: December 27, 2019- Passed suddenly into eternal rest at the age of 71. Beloved father of Rebecca (Jeremy) Block and dearest grandfather of Samuel, Kaleigh and Nicholas. Survived by his brother, Dan (Margaret) Hooley, his sister, Colleen (Don) Dee, his sister-in-law, Anna Marie Hooley, along with several nieces and nephews. Paul grew up in Buffalo, NY and graduated from North Tonawanda High School in 1966 after which he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served aboard the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge from military service he went on to work for Trico Products Corporation, the company which discovered the windshield wiper in 1917, until it ultimately shut down its Buffalo operations in 2002, after working for the company a total of 31 years. Eventually he retired in Canandaigua, NY to live closer to his daughter, son-in-law and his grandchildren, and was a loving father and a doting grandfather who always put everyone else first before himself. Paul loved golf, washing and waxing his cars until they shined like a new penny, caring for his yard (and driveway) and watching all sports. He was a devoted Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan, in good times and in bad. Despite his failing health at a young age, he never complained and would always light up when his daughter and son-in-law or grandchildren would visit. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Paul’s life on Thursday, (January 2, 2020) from 5-7 PM, at Arndt Funeral Home, 1118 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626. A prayer service will immediately follow at 7 PM. Internment with military honors will be held on Friday, (January 3, 2020) in the Bath National Cemetery for immediate family only.118 Long Pond Road Rochester, NY 14626 1118 Long Pond Road
