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Clarks Summit woman helps others withgeneral and special fitness classes
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Michael J. Mullen / Staff photographerMichael J. Mullen / Staff photographerJo Akers has been a fitness instructorJo Akers has been a fitness instructorfor 30 years. She teaches a variety offor 30 years. She teaches a variety ofclasses including a cancer-wellnessclasses including a cancer-wellnessprogram and has recently started a newprogram and has recently started a newclass that helps special-needs children.class that helps special-needs children.
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
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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.
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"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
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