Rosemary Allocco, M.S. of Pocono Medical Center Cardiac Services, stretches her arms over her head one way and then the other, all the time talking to a small group of dedicated seniors, encouraging them to do the same.

Members of the group are doing what they can to stay flexible and mobile, thanks to the Pocono Health System's twice weekly morning exercise class for adults over 55. It is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Co. from 9:30-10 a.m."We're trying to get the word out that we're here and about the benefits of low impact exercising," says Allocco.She has been conducting this class since 1982.It began in 1981 when she was looking for a job. With her background in exercise physiology, Dr. Elmo Lily thought she'd be just the person to head up a program he had been thinking about for some time."He felt that an increasing number of his older patients were suffering from maladies from inactivity. He wanted the hospital to develop an exercise program for them. Back in the 80s, this was unheard of. People in their 60s, 70s, and 80s had the mind set of 'I can't do that.' It was the time of Richard Simmons and all the glitz and glamour exercise. So it was a hurdle to get the older generation convinced they could exercise."She worked on a program with the hospital and Dr. Lily, who asked her to "give them life."Allocco started a class at the hospital and went out into the community to try to promote it. One of the hospital's administrators had a mother living in Kunkletown and wanted her to participate and suggested starting a class at the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Co.Kunkletown's fire company gave Allocco the green light and classes began in 1982 every Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Soon word of mouth spread about the classes and it began to fill up."The challenge was to get people to see that exercise was good for them. We had a lot of fun doing it. We went to people's houses who had pools for summer exercise class. We went to malls to demonstrate what we were all about."Thirty years later, the classes are still going on and Allocco says she and the hospital are very grateful to the fire company for letting them continue to use the building. But, the class has grown smaller over the years."It's a different generation. People are more involved in other things," she says.She can't stress enough the importance of exercise in people's lives. She believes it's very necessary the older we get."You don't have to be a seasoned athlete. We do low level exercising, often using chairs. It helps minimize a lot of aches and pains."Allocco incorporates music, often tying it in to holidays and seasons. She incorporates her own passions into her classes like cooking, country dancing, even flying. The exercises involve movements of flexibility, strengthening, stretching and aerobics. They do use light weights (or cans). Some of her movements are developed because someone comes into class saying they couldn't get out of the tub or couldn't reach something in a cupboard. One time a member fell on the ice and lost some flexibility. She tries to address the needs of the clients.Helen Bott of Kresgeville has been coming to the classes for 20 years. At age 89 she believes it's good for her well-being."It keeps everything lubricated. And I made friendships here," she says.Dolores Horvath, 85 of Saylorsburg, has been coming to the classes for two years."My daughter made me. She told me I was not going to sit at home. I found it to be fun, I made friends and it helped my neck," she says.Delores Horn, 76 of Kresgeville has been faithfully coming to the classes for the last eight years because "It makes me move a little bit more."Joan Hoffman of Saylorsburg, believes the classes have helped her in strengthening her legs."I can tell when I hold my grandson and I have to get off the chair, I can get up holding him. I like the exercising and only two days a week I can handle," says the 73-year old.Shirley Costenbader, 70, of Kresgeville has diabetes."These classes make me feel better and makes me move better. I enjoy it. It's like I'm dancing. I have arthritis in my hands. It even helps them also," she says.If you are curious about the class, Allocco invites you to come visit them one morning or if you'd like to talk to Allocco, you may call her at (570) 422-8340.