We’ve got the immediate future on the brain.
And even less frequently do we say, “I wish I was as fit as a grandmother.”
And I don’t mean when we’re her age.
The Tip:Startyoung!
A Fitness Slump:
When she left skating behind for college at Magill, the adjustment was difficult.
Even fitness marvels like Cluff have shaky moments!)
Depressed over missing exercise and skating, she put on weight and got mushy.
She realized that fitness waskey to happiness, especially for her.
Pioneering Physical Fitness:
Back in the day, exercise was not the accepted priority that it is today.
She saw her students were less than excited about PE class.
“I decided to make it fun and interesting,” she explains.
“I started a program called, ‘Cardio VascularDance.’
All of a sudden, the girls were having fun.
One student’s mother came in and said, ‘What are you doing to my daughter?
Her grades are better, herskincleared up and her attitude has improved.
Whatever it is, I want it, too!”
Soon, she started a program called “Wellness In The Workplace,” subcontracted by various businesses.
“This was before corporations recognized that productivity would improve with exercise,” she explains.
Even the YMCA didn’t have a gym!
She even hosted a fitness TV show called “Now.”
Even through personal rough patches, spreading the word about exercise became her anchor.
The Tip:Exercise wasn’t always so pervasive in our culture.
The industry grew as it became clear that fitness could help motivate people in all different arenas.
As Cluff asserts, “Fitness isa key tool for successfor everything in life.
“We wanted to wipe the word ‘diet’ out of the vocabulary,” she enthuses.
“We wanted to take punishment out of fitness and make it fun.
From the beginning, we used fresh andhealthy foods.
The Tip:Eating healthy, fresh foods is the key to a balanced diet.
“I used to teach modern dance, " she recalls.
“Well, that’s really Zumba with a different beat.
The thing that hasn’t changed is that we have to stay creative to keep people motivated.”
“I became concerned about knees,” she explains.
“I’m not retired,” she quips.
“I’m reinvented.”
In fact, she’s the oldest person who competes in her advanced category.
At last year’s Adult National Championships, she took home 4gold medals.
Her husband is still a black diamond skier.
So, how does she do it?
“Every other day, I do 150 to 200 push-ups (without stopping).
I’m about 14% body fat.
And she always reminds people to check their posture.
The Tip:Keep moving!
“There’s no such thing as an instant fitness program and no one can do it for you.
One ever important issue: posture.
