Age is just a number to 89-year-old Coburg Village resident Shirley Cohen. Most mornings you’ll find her power walking outside or through the halls of the community. She participates in almost every fitness class Coburg Village offers, including Drumfit, aerobics, strength training, balance training, and more.

In April, Shirley launched her Facebook Group, Shirley’s Fitness for 70 and Above. What started as an outlet for sharing a passion for wellness, quickly turned into a sensation with more than 9,000 followers as of mid-August, and her numbers continue to grow.

Shirley always enjoyed staying fit. Her interest heightened in her mid-fifties when in 2000, her daughter, Paula, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Walking helped Shirley cope during her daughter’s illness and passing – an unimaginable situation for any parent.

It was around that same time, when Shirley’s other daughter, Alisa, temporarily moved in with Shirley and her husband, Dick. In addition to having had a career in the hotel industry, Alisa is a certified personal trainer. Shirley and Dick had an extra room in their home with a treadmill and weights. This is when Alisa introduced Shirley to weight training.

It was Alisa who inspired Shirley and helped her set up her Facebook group. Prior to that, Alisa had her own Facebook fitness group for which Shirley served as a moderator. Shirley’s Fitness for 70 and Above offers followers inspiration, motivation, and encouragement to stay active and live well. Shirley stresses that you don’t have to be a body builder, you just have to have a positive mindset and keep moving. She also points out that there are all kinds of opportunities to exercise for all fitness levels here at Coburg Village.

Shirley starts each day by posting an inspirational quote for her followers encouraging them to stay active. She also stresses the importance of choosing healthy foods with plenty of protein, fruits, and vegetables and drinking your water. She now has followers posting healthy recipes on her site.

At one point Shirley’s children suggested she put a cap on her number of followers, but she is ok letting the site grow organically. She just can’t turn people away who are looking for encouragement to stay healthy. She tries to respond to most posts, although she can’t spend all her time at the computer.

Shirley and her husband, Dick, moved to Coburg Village almost eight years ago. Prior to that they owned and operated Cohen’s Furniture in Schenectady, New York, and then retired to their home in the Poconos. Dick was familiar with Coburg Village having delivered furniture to residents at the community. So, when the couple decided to downsize and move closer to family, Coburg Village was their first choice.

Shirley hopes to encourage people to live well and help ensure that their golden years are as golden as they can be! Be sure to check out Shirley’s Facebook group Shirley’s Fitness for 70 and Above, and request to join her group and join in on the fun.