GETTING FIT FOR THE NEW YEAR — Those who took part in an aerobics class taught by instructor Carol Teaff at the Weirton campus of West Virginia Northern Community College, will once again have the opportunity to join the upcoming free course that is being offered beginning Tuesday. The class runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 8 and is free of charge.
— Contributed

WEIRTON — Approximately 80 percent of Americans who made a New Year’s resolution this year chose to set a goal to improve their health.

Exercise and weight-loss were among the promises made by more than 96 million adults, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Health and Fitness Association.

That makes it the most popular theme for 2025.

The reality of making these resolutions come to fruition, however, can be expensive.

According to YouGov, research has shown that just 9 percent of Americans will actually keep their resolutions throughout the year. And almost nine out of 10 people said having access to structured spaces such as gyms, health clubs or exercise studios is an important factor to achieving their goal, resulting in those low figures of those who follow through on their Jan. 1 promises. One reason people end up shying away from continuing or beginning an exercise routine is that not everybody can afford to join a gym or club.

As a result, apps are being downloaded as a means to losing weight and getting physically and mentally fit so people can go through the process at home. The top aspirations of app users saw 50 percent of people wanting to build or strengthen their muscles and 44 percent seeking to establish a regular exercise regimen. Americans wanting to improve their mental health through physical activity stood at 42 percent.

“Americans are entering the new year with strong ambitions to improve their health and fitness, but financial strain is a real obstacle for many,” stated Liz Clark, president and CEO of the HFA. “This represents both a challenge and an opportunity to explore strategic solutions that can make fitness more accessible to everyone.”

But one area woman is helping community residents achieve their goal of getting fit by offering free aerobics to those intent on keeping their word.

Carol Teaff has been exercising non-stop for 45 years. She has been offering free aerobics classes since retiring as an English and speech professor at West Virginia Northern Community College in 2008, following a 33-year career.

The college had asked her to run a community education exercise class because she previously taught a one-credit hour step aerobics class as part of her schedule.

And she has continued to do so ever since.

Even during the pandemic, she still ran her class through Zoom, not allowing COVID to deter her from doing what she loves.

So, what prompted her to begin exercising in the first place?

Teaff explained, “I started exercising to work my way out of depression caused by life events. Exercise is the perfect cure for depression.”

“I started out going to exercise classes with friends, but they all eventually quit,” she continued. “So, I kept on going to classes by myself because I could see what exercising was doing for me — reducing my heart rate, strengthening my lungs, lowering my risk of cancer and other diseases, increasing my flexibility and just making me happy. Cardio is the best thing someone can do for their body, along with weight lifting, which I also did for many years and have recently gone back to.”

“Most people who start exercising drop out within six months, and of those who remain, many keep exercising at the same level instead of upping their game,” Teaff said.

“The goal should be to keep improving, whatever your age,” she stressed. “In addition, a lot of people set unrealistic goals — dropping x number of pounds or running a 5K race before they are ready, or lifting weights that are too heavy for them. Deconditioned people need to start with something easy and work toward realistic goals, resisting the urge to compete with others in better shape who have been exercising longer.”

“I can’t even tell you how many out-of-shape guys I have seen running on the beach in bare feet at noon,” she stated. “This is a bad idea for so many reasons.”

Even if one doesn’t take Teaff’s classes, she offered advice on the proper way those starting out their New Year’s resolution of exercising should begin.

She stressed the importance of starting slow, doing it three times a week.

“Make it harder when you’re ready,” she commented. “Schedule it into your life and don’t quit, even if you feel like quitting. If I skipped my exercise routine every time that I didn’t feel like doing it, I would rarely work out. Once my heart rate climbs, I am always happy that I kept my schedule. After 45 years, I can’t not do it!”

“To get the most advantage out of cardio, exercisers need to keep track of their heart rates,” she noted, saying anyone is able to go online and search for target heart rate zones. Wearing a fitness tracker also is a good idea, she added.

She will once again hold classes for those interested in continuing or just beginning an exercise routine starting on Tuesday.

The class will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the student center of the Weirton campus, located in the back of the building. The class will run through May 8.

This is a low-impact class that puts an emphasis on continuous movement, strength improvement and flexibility. All of the exercise are done while standing, so there aren’t any chairs or floor work involved.

Everyone is encouraged to work at his or her own ability level, never pushing themselves beyond what they are able to handle.

Participants are asked to wear loose or stretchy clothing, along with athletic shoes. They should bring a bottle of water as well, she noted.

To register for the class and begin to fulfill that resolution to become healthier, visit wvncc.edu/community-education and click on “Current Courses Available.”

Select “Community Education/ Health and Wellness,” and then enter the information required.

Students can register on paper Tuesday prior to the first class.