Active SWV would like to introduce the December Community Captain of the month, Lori Keller. Lori is the Community Captain of our Gentle Yoga Class. She had the time to answer a few questions for us about herself, what motivates her, and why you too should join an Active SWV free program.
Tell us about yourself, where are you from, and how did you end up in WV?
I am originally from Broadway VA. I was lured to WV by its beauty. I love the mountains! I now have 3 amazing children who keep me very busy but when I was younger I did a lot of hiking, rock climbing, and snowboarding. So, the mountains of WV were a perfect fit for me.
Why are you active? How did you start being physically active?
I’ve always been a very active person, in fact, I have a hard time slowing down which is why yoga is so perfect for me. I’ve been involved with sports since I was a little girl. I played softball in both high school and college. I think staying active is very important, especially as we get older. It will improve our overall quality of life, keep our heart healthy, and keep us mentally strong because it’s a great way to relieve stress.
What motivated you to volunteer with Active SWV in your community?
I wanted to reach out to an older population of people in our community who I felt could really benefit from an easy form of yoga that ANYBODY could do no matter what their physical limitations were. I wanted to create a safe, comfortable, and completely supportive, environment for them to be able to come and feel better.
How do you stay motivated? Why is being active a priority for you?
My yoga students are such a motivation for me. Most of my students are a lot older than me and they are very healthy. I love that they are committed to living healthier and feeling better. They inspire me to continue being active and make exercise a lifelong priority for myself and my family.
Why do you think someone should join an Active SWV free program?
I think people should find an Active SWV program close to them to find that support group with others in their community that are trying to live healthier. There is such a variety of classes that Active SWV offers that there is an option for everyone no matter what your ability level. My chair yoga class anyone can do and is a wonderful place to start if you need to start small. Having that fellowship and encouragement from others and being able to support each other in reaching your health goals will help you stay motivated.
Do you have any words of encouragement for people thinking of becoming a Community Captain or are interested in becoming more physically active?
I love being a community captain for Active SWV. Continuing to teach my classes is motivating me to stay active for my students and I have met so many wonderful new people along the way. Being a community captain has also allowed me to be a part of new opportunities to be active that I didn’t even know existed in my community and I can share those with others. If you have the opportunity to help your community stay active by being a community captain, you should do it. We need you!!
Lori is enthusiastic about encouraging and transforming our community into a happy and healthy place. Active SWV, the staff, and community are so thankful to have Lori on our team.
