A Calgary senior is exercising her way closer to her 100th birthday and is our CTV Calgary Athlete of the week.
Ruth VanZweeden spends most mornings getting her daily dose of endorphins at the Westside Recreation Centre in the city's southwest.
"I do older adult aerobics, stretch and two times a week I do aqua and then I do some machines," said VanZweeden. "And this is just everything you need, what I need at my age."
The former teacher, librarian and beloved nanny to the Ames family works out five times a week and has been a member at the workout facility for the last 10 years.
VanZweeden signed up when she was 85 and just two weeks ago she celebrated her 95th birthday.
"Of course I have issues. But I have my own hips, my own knees, my own teeth and it's my own hair."
Her workout partners and instructors are impressed by her strength and stamina.
"It's not just the physical about being able to do this functional fitness at home. It's about the emotional and social contacts cause she's got all her buddies here," said Instructor, Lynn Bridge. "She's like their idol. They want to be like her when they're 95 years old."
VanZweeden says that anyone can workout and she stresses that if you can do it, you should be committed to it.
For her commitment to her physical health and for setting a positive example for others, Ruth VanZweeden is the CTV Calgary Athlete of the Week for Friday, April 27, 2012.
