June 2008 Vol. 27. No. 6

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Never too late to start yoga
Briefs
Fortuna: Glide into Summer at the River Lodge June 6
Del Norte Senior Center: Exercise, get stronger, play and have fun
Around the Center
Songwriter sings praises of STRONG classes

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Never too late to start yoga
The Schwartz's birthdays, 98th and 99th, are a celebration
by Patricia Starr

"I give love today, I receive love today." Patricia Starr leads her yoga class in a stretch which is also a blessing. From left to right, in the front row are Ruby Brown, Wanda Vaughan, Julie and Sydney Schwartz, Carolyn Burns; on the back row are Murray Farrar, Kara Lynn Klarner, Lee Berning, Deanna Pawlus, Barb McKee and Jane Stock. Photo by Barbara Clark

Two members of the Friday yoga class at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center just celebrated their 98th and 99th birthdays. Julius Schwartz was born April 9, 1910. His wife, Sydney, was born April 18, 1909. They have been married for 72 years.

They met in New York City in June 1935 and married three months later. Raising their children in New York, they loved to take them to art museums and to Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. Son Daniel is now an accomplished pianist, while daughter Lori went into the arts.

Julie worked as a fund raiser for Israel Bond Trading Company and was a negotiation chairman for his union.

Sydney said, "He was a kind and good father" and seemed to her to be more maternal than she was. Sydney wrote plays for the kids, and Daniel would compose music for them. "It was a family effort," Sydney said.

Every summer Julie and Sydney would take a month off and travel, including to Europe and Mexico. They always enjoyed the time to be together without the demands of children and other responsibilities.

When they both retired after 40-year careers, they moved to Connecticut and participated in the YMCA, played tennis and bridge and did folk and square dancing. They "danced around the country," said Julie, following the square dance circuit from east to west. They enjoyed the dancing, costumes and all the people, he said. Later they moved to Florida. They lived in an independent living community. There Julie loved singing and acting, and they both took art and music classes.

In 2004, after Julie had a stroke, the couple moved to Eureka to be with their daughter, Lori. They are now building a new house for the next phase of their lives.

Sydney and Julie sing at the senior center every Thursday. They also go to June Davis's exercise class twice a week and take yoga on Friday mornings.

Sydney attributes her longevity to healthy living and a good marriage, and also to her mother, who lived to be 92. When asked about his longevity, Julie said, "What? How long have I lived? Ninety-eight? It's time to quit!" Sydney firmly replied, "Not yet."

Start yoga any time

Julie and Sydney started coming to yoga class shortly after they moved to Eureka in 2004. They prove how anyone can start yoga at any age while reaping many benefits and inspiring other class members.

Equally inspiring are the 60-, 70- and 80-year-olds who decided to start practicing yoga. They were pleasantly surprised at how quickly their bodies showed positive changes and their minds a growing sense of peace and well-being.

Many people in the class notice their posture and balance improving and muscles strengthening. They learn to breathe correctly with deep conscious breaths from the diaphragm, which increases circulation, oxygenates the blood stream and creates more energy, helps lower blood pressure and calms the nervous system. People also notice increased flexibility and a lessening of arthritis symptoms.

No matter what difficulties a person may bring to yoga, there is a way to deal with it and to receive support from the practice as well as the camaraderie of the group. There is a lot of sharing and laughter, a real sense of community spirit.

Yoga creates a unique and wholesome experience for people of any age or gender. There is a place for everyone.

Patricia Starr is a certified yoga teacher and has been teaching yoga at HSRC since 1989. The class meets every Friday at 11:10 a.m. She can be reached at 445-0644.