HONOLULU (KHON2) — Celeste Lajala, a once successful physician and professor, saw a need in the community for more senior fitness classes, so she got herself certified to teach.
She’s grown her class size from two to 120 across six classes and earned the title of Instructor of the Year.
If you crack open the door to 24 Hour Fitness Hawaii Kai, you’ll be able to find Celeste’s silver sneakers class — which is like stepping on the red carpet to a nightclub.
Celeste uses her own money to provide items like drums, ribbons, hula hoops and parachutes to keep the class full of energy and fun. It’s part of what made her the Silver Sneakers National Instructor of the year.
“The award is surreal because this group is responsible for nominating me. To have been selected for that just means that we got a good thing going on here,” she said.
The vibe is quite the contrast from Celeste’s previous career.
“I’m actually a retired physician and I started just like them, first time in the gym after raising kids and not sure what was happening and I just got sucked into the culture.”
She was also a professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
“The more I got into it, the more I decided I wanted to teach. The opportunity became available after COVID for picking up some of our senior classes and so I got certified. I had no idea how exuberant this group was going to be. This is not just a class I teach, this is my family.”
And the feeling is mutual. She helps them with balance, resistance training and cardio. A plethora of benefits for kupuna — including the community and social event that the classes have become.
“Always singing, all kinds of games. Sometimes we do holiday dress up. They are always in for it. We’ve gone even further by doing potluck lunches or lunch outings in the community and helping support some small businesses in our shopping center,” Celeste added.
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It’s a special group, but Celeste said it doesn’t take any special abilities for our kupuna to get in shape.
“Everyone started somewhere, everyone started being at home and not having much to do. It really is a use-it-or-lose-it. Come in, have a seat, let us show you how to do it and you’ll build yourself up over time. The next thing you know, you’ll be just as loud and fiery as the rest of them.”