The official title of the noon group exercise class that meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Rush-Copley’s Healthplex in Aurora is Functionally Fit.
But over the last 10 years, it also has grown into much more and could easily instead be called family fitness.
Now the class of approximately 20 to 25 people, many of whom have experience health-related issues such as back pain or knee replacements, attend the Functionally Fit class to improve their range of motion, strength and flexibility in the low-intensity fitness class.
But they also keep coming back for the camaraderie that has developed between the frequent attendees.
Much of the credit for the family atmosphere goes to the group’s instructor Neeta Mohanty, a certified yoga instructor.
First attending the class due to spinal issues that reduced her mobility, Aurora resident Paula Borowiak said, “We are like a giant family.”
At one time Borowiak was active in yoga and by attending the class, she has gotten a lot of her mobility back.
“Neeta focuses on everyone’s individual issues,” she said.
Originally from India where she studied physics, Mohanty, who became an instructor in 2003, now conducts about 19 fitness classes each week, dividing her time between Rush-Copley’s Healthplex, the Aurora Park District, and the YMCA.
Mohanty became involved with yoga after she experienced severe back pain. A doctor recommended surgery, however she decided to try yoga instead and later became a certified instructor.
Now when class members come with a specific problem, Mohanty adapts exercises to help each of them individually.
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Aurora’s Cathy LaBash said the Functionally Fit class is the first exercise class her husband David ever attended.
As a hunter and a fisherman over their 41 years of marriage, LaBash said she finally convinced her then newly-retired husband to try one of Mohanty’s classes.
Two years later, he also is a regular.
“The class isn’t just an exercise class,” David said. “Neeta’s class also is about socialization, mobility, and balance.”
Her class teaches us about the integration between the mind and body, he added.
When the class was first offered about 10 years ago, it initially had low attendance and some of its earliest members recruited others at the Healthplex to ensure the class would continue.
Today, the class is comprised of friends as much as exercise companions, but all say new people are always welcomed.
Many of the class regulars attended Cathy and David LaBash’s daughter’s recent wedding.
In addition, one of its earliest members, Betsy Fletcher, said when someone has missed a few sessions of the class, “we go on a mission to make sure they are OK.”
Following bypass surgery, Marilyn Lawless regularly attended water aerobics at the Healthplex. However, following a car accident, Lawless started attending the Functionally Fit class and calls it a lifesaver for her.
“I come here for the emotional and physical support,” Lawless said.
Jennie Sirois, a 15-year member of Rush Copley Healthplex who has been attending the functionally fit class since it began said, “Neeta keeps this whole family together. It is both mental health and physical health.”
Although Mohanty travels back to India each year to visit family and friends — this year she will be bringing 62 presents — she also calls the members of her Functionally Fit exercise class family.
Mohanty organizes group celebrations for each class member’s birthday and has an annual dinner at her home for the class. Also each Thursday, the group meets for lunch following the class.
“I don’t want anyone to feel lonely,” she added.
Cathy Janek is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News