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Back to HomeFeature Article - April 12, 2012 Spring Fit'n Fun classes return to Ardenby Julie Druker

Photo: Gloria Smiley (center) is back with participants at her first spring session of Fit n' Fun classes which are held every Tuesday in Arden

Back for her eighth year of helping to keep Ardenites in shape, Gloria Smiley has just begun her spring session of Fit n' Fun classes, which run every Tuesday from now until the end of June at the Kennebec hall in Arden. Smiley taught physical education for years in Scarborough and has been taking physical fitness classes for a good portion of her life. She firmly believes in the importance of “keeping energized and flexible so as to be able to continue to enjoy all that life has to offer.”

Smiley has designed the classes to encompass multiple ways of improving fitness and overall health. She begins each class with a warm up, then moves into various aerobic exercises, which are followed by weight work, muscle toning and a final cool down and stretching session. Her classes are geared to men and women of all ages, (participants have ranged in ages from 26-90), and to all fitness levels and abilities. “I stress the importance of everyone working at their own level and I offer alternatives depending on whether participants prefer a high or low impact workout. And it's all done to great music that everyone really enjoys,” Gloria said.

Though many in her class are returning participants, Smiley welcomes newcomers and takes extra time to explain the exercises to ensure that no one gets hurts injured. “The main point here is to have fun and to get physically active; keeping up with the moves is definitely not the most important thing here.” Judy Kennedy, who has been attending Smiley's classes for three years, said, “It's a great way to keep fit and activity is the best way to prolong life. As hard as it can be sometimes to drag your butt out of bed in the morning, you always feel great after a class.”

Participants attending classes should wear running shoes and loose fitting clothes, bring a towel or mat, and hand weights (which can be water bottles or cans of food).

The classes run every Tuesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. and participants are asked to make a 25 cent donation to the Kennebec Recreation committee at each class.