Exercising can be a great way to stay in shape and relieve stress, but for Jo Akers, it's much more than that. Fitness is a way of life.
For the past 30 years, the Clarks Summit resident has loved being a fitness instructor. Her commitment to fitness had humble beginnings.
"I actually started doing it because I was bored," Mrs. Akers said, "and I just got addicted to it."
A Honesdale native, Mrs. Akers joined a gym to meet new people when she moved to Harrisburg. Her passion for fitness, however, really grew when she began teaching classes.
"I have a family I want to stay healthy for, and this is how I've done it," Mrs. Akers said. "But also, it's helped other people. And that's what my goal is, to reach out to as many people and to really help them feel good about themselves."
Making people feel better about themselves is what Mrs. Akers aims to do in all of her fitness classes. She believes it's not so important what you do, as long as you do something.
"When you exercise physically you know you feel better. When you feel better, mentally, you think better," Mrs. Akers said, "so everything seems more clear to you."
Mrs. Akers teaches a variety of classes at Scranton Jewish Community Center, Total Tone Women's Fitness Studio, the Greater Scranton YMCA and Birchwood Fitness. The latest class she began teaching is aerobic dancing for people with special needs program.
"It's a phenomenal program," Mrs. Akers said.
After doing a four-week special-needs program at the JCC, Mrs. Akers was able to start one at Total Tone. There, she works with all types of special-needs students ranging in age from 18 to 30. She believes the class is helpful for the students, and she hopes to eventually start a children's program, too.
"I think there's a need for this," Mrs. Akers said. "They feel like they're part of something. And they are."
Feels the happiness
Mrs. Akers said she can feel the happiness that radiates from the kids in her class, and it reminds her about the bigger picture in life. During the weekly class, she said, she learns as much from them as they learn from her.
"They say special needs, but they're no different than you or me," Mrs. Akers said. "They make me feel happy, and that's what it's about. Life's about being happy; that includes everyone and everything."
Another class Mrs. Akers feels strongly about is the cancer-wellness class she teaches at the JCC. She is amazed at how her students take on adversity, and she said the support everyone gives each other makes the class members as close as family.
"When you see these individuals and what they've come through and where they have come to at this point in their life, it's amazing," Mrs. Akers said. "They've taught me so much about life."
Mrs. Akers receives inspiration from all her students but especially from those in her special-needs and cancer-wellness classes. There is a special bond that develops from all the love and support in her classes.
"It's a feeling that I get; I don't know how to explain it," Mrs. Akers said. "When we're together, there's never any negativity. There's always the sense of happiness there. And that is something that I think that we miss out on life."
Seeing her students smile, laugh and enjoy life even though they all face obstacles reminds Mrs. Akers to keep a positive attitude no matter what situation she finds herself in.
"My father used to always say to me, 'You have two choices in life when you're hit with a difficult situation'" Mrs. Akers said. "'You can sit around and feel sorry for yourself, or you can get up and keep moving.' I choose to keep moving."
Purpose in life
After 30 years of teaching, Mrs. Akers' love of fitness has only grown. She said being a fitness instructor is wonderful not only for her but also for her family. She loves what she does and has full faith that this is her purpose in life.
"I do it because I enjoy it for myself. But I've found that if you can make a difference for someone, that's important," Mrs. Akers said. "I feel, personally, that we're here on Earth to give to people, not to take from them. Each of us in our own small way, we have something to offer. We just have to find that thing to offer."
Contact the writer: jweitemeyer @timesshamrock.com
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Meet Jo Akers
At home: Lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, David; their children, Wesley and Ashley; their dog, Rocky; and their cat, Tatum.
At work: Fitness instructor at Scranton Jewish Community Center, Total Tone Women's Fitness Studio, Greater Scranton YMCA and Birchwood Fitness
Inspirations: Her faith in God, her family and her students, especially the ones who have died
Aspirations: "I hope that I can reach out to as many people as I can help," she said.
Diversions: Sewing, cooking, reading, arts and crafts
Aversions: Bullying and violence
Quote: "Good morning, this is God. Relax and have a good day, I'm in charge."
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