Anne Hastings leads Oberlin aerobics

Instructor got start in aerobics after struggle to jog around the block

Leading an undulating gym full of people through the elbow grinding movements of Quad City DJs' "C'mon, Ride It (The Train)" is not what Anne Hastings had in mind when she took her first aerobics class more than 17 years ago.

But now, after 17 years as an aerobics instructor, she guides an entire crowd of students and members from the Oberlin community gracefully through the grapevine move, or a disco version of the Can-Can, as naturally as you'd walk down the street. But with a twist, since Hastings usually has a smile on her face.

A failed jogging mission was the original inspiration behind taking low-impact aerobics.

"I was feeling out of shape and cooped up, so I went for a jog. But I only made it about half a block before I was all tuckered out and gasping for breath. That's when I decided I wanted to get back in shape," Hastings said.

Like most people who take low-impact aerobics, she didn't feel like it really did much after the first class.

"I wasn't exhausted and panting," she explained.

But three weeks later, after attending class regularly, she decided to take another jog.

This time she ran much further - without really trying either.

"So I thought, `This must be working.'"

Another thing she noticed was an improvement of her coordination.

She still works with the woman who taught her first aerobics class.

Except now she is an instructor and the other woman has become a choreographer for low-impact aerobic classes.

In addition to teaching aerobics, Hastings is also a biology lab technician.

The aerobics class she teaches focuses primarily on flexibility, toning and a cardiovascular workout.

She aimed to create a class which would improve flexibility and heart strength, but still only take an hour to give people an adequate workout; plus, she wanted to make sure it would be a class that everyone could participate in at their own pace.

"It's not about no pain no gain," she said.

Indeed, the moves are easy to pick up, fun to do and incorporated into songs from several genres - from country songs, the Beatles, the Fugees, Whitney Houston and a medley of '50s tunes to name just a few.

The music and routine changes every six weeks (at least) and Hastings and her former teacher, plus a crew of 30 aerobics instructors from around the Cleveland area, get together every once in a while to "jam" and exchange ideas about music and moves.

From the slightly elevated platform where Hastings directs the class it must be humorous to watch a pack of kids and adults wave their arms, waggle their hips and hustle back and forth across the floor.

Hastings said, "But that's the point: you can't be serious when you do these moves. It's OK to be silly and look silly. Just enjoy yourself and forget how you're suppose to act. I've learned you have to live life for yourself and I hope others will too. I get a charge out of people being themselves."

The routine has changed over the years and become, as Hastings says, "dancier."

She pointed out that there weren't as many health clubs 15 years ago and people didn't quite pick up the routine as easily and try to involve all the muscle groups.

Also, the class size has grown from its original size of four people huddled into the fencing room, to an almost shoulder-to-shoulder group in Hales gym.

The soaring popularity is no surprise - low-impact aerobics is preventive medicine.

"It's like, if you don't use it, you lose it," Hastings said about muscle.

Speaking of not losing it, Hastings is 51 years old and still going strong.

From the pulpit she stands on in Hales Gym you'd never guess she was much over thirty.

Donned in casual athletic apparel - nylon shorts and a T-shirt - Hastings is in excellent physical shape, and keeps her hair trimmed in a sporty Dorothy Hamill 'do.

Her morning class is a little quieter given the hour and attended mainly by people from the town of Oberlin.

The class consists of a core of people who've been together for 15 years.

Although they don't meet on a social level, the class serves as a support team.

"Everyone goes through hard times, and the class is a good source of constant nourishment. Something to depend on, a time to reflect or relax and prioritize things," said Hastings.

A huge component of the class is the power of positive thinking.

Hastings promotes this with positive affirmations which remind the class to enjoy themselves, to smile, and tackle life with enthusiasm.

It's not your average aerobics class, laden with Spandex and people strutting their stuff in an effort to compete with a thin-obsessed society.

It's a class free of pretensions and full of the optimism Hastings has to offer. Enthusiasm for life is such a part of Anne's personality it spills into her style of teaching and earns her the name Positive Affirmation Anne.

To those people who don't know her - and there aren't too many - it may be shocking to learn that she teaches aerobics six days a week (some days both in the morning and afternoon).

But Hastings has never been the couch potato type.

Growing up on a farm in Berlin Falls, Ohio she spent her childhood riding horses, swimming and roughhousing with her five siblings, plus attending to the daily chores of the animals and barn.

"Really, it was an idyllic childhood. We worked hard, and we played hard. I can remember lying back on our hay wagon, smelling the fruit trees from the orchard and thinking that I must live in the most beautiful place."

Even as a child she was blessed with a cheerful outlook on life.

Her first shot at teaching was really a fluke. Her oldest son liked to skate and play hockey, but couldn't find any other kids who even knew how to skate. Anne told him to invite anyone interested to their house on a Saturday afternoon, and they'd all go to the rink and learn.

"My husband woke me up that Saturday and asked me what was going on. He was staring out the window in disbelief because our front lawn was littered with kids and parents and cars waiting for skate lessons. After that my son had a lot of kids to play hockey with, they even made a whole team," Hastings said.

A similar situation occurred after she taught her daughter to horseback ride.

So it seems Hastings is a born teacher, always encouraging people to get involved in athletics for the fun of it.

"It's always been a blast to get people involved in athletics," she said.