The Community Times Dispatch

Walterboro resident Al Miller’s vision to help some of his church members improve their mobility is more than a reality; it’s just short of being miraculous. He now serves as director of a Arthritis Foundation Exercise in Cottageville with two additional certified instructors. According to Miller, he first had the vision to facilitate the exercise class sometime last year as he watched many of the mature adults within his church experiencing restricted movements. The first eight-week Arthritis Foundation Exercise class started last year in the fellowship hall of St. John A.M.E. Church in Cottageville, South Carolina where Reverend Albertha Cook is the pastor.

“I mentioned to Pastor Cook that I wanted to begin the exercise class and the first class started with seven participants,” said Miller. Now we have about 25 finishing this class and we have some waiting for the next eight week session.”

Miller said that some of the seniors have witnessed so much success that they like to continue through consecutive 8-week exercise classes. He pointed out one participant that he described as having had significant restriction in mobility due to arthritis.

“Before she started this class, it would take her a long time just to get down the aisle in church,” said Miller. “Now, she is moving well and never complaining about pain.”

The sessions begin with morning devotion and a warm-up; such as, walking ten laps around the tables in the fellowship hall. Participants meet each Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. On Tuesdays, breakfast is served after the warm-up and then the instructor demonstrates a variety of exercises for each student.

Whether the exercise requires locomotion, standing, sitting, or laying, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise instructor encourages all attendees to make the best effort to accomplish the task.