Fitness trainer to older residents thrives at S.A. senior centers – San Antonio Express-News


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Donna Gordon leads her hip-hop twerking class at the Walker Ranch Senior Center on Friday. 
Donna Gordon is pictured at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday.
Katy Stephens works out in the hip hop twerking class lead by Donna Gordon (not pictured) at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday. Gordon credits her mother with teaching her discipline that lead her to graduate with honors from the University of Incarnate Word, become a trophy-winning bodybuilder and serve as fitness trainer to older residents at memory care and senior centers.
Annette Garza, left, is framed as she watches instructor Donna Gordon, right, in the hip hop twerking class led by Gordon at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday. Gordon credits her mother with teaching her discipline that lead her to graduate with honors from the University of Incarnate Word, become a trophy-winning bodybuilder and serve as fitness trainer to older residents at memory care and senior centers.
Donna Gordon embraces a student after her hip hop twerking class at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday. Gordon credits her mother with teaching her discipline that lead her to graduate with honors from the University of Incarnate Word, become a trophy-winning bodybuilder and serve as fitness trainer to older residents at memory care and senior centers.
SAN ANTONIO — Eleven seniors grooved to finger-snapping tunes in the dance studio at the Walker Ranch Senior Center on Friday as Donna Gordon counted off the beat in her popular Hip Hop Twerk Class.
“One, two, three!” the fitness trainer shouted. “Low! Up!”
In front of a wall of mirrors, the group pulled stretched straps, shook pompoms and strutted across the wooden floor.
“Y’all are doing a great job!” Gordon said. “I’m proud of you!”
During the 45-minute session, they followed Gordon’s moves to high-energy songs such as Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” and Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray.”
The cardio session at the center at 835 W. Rhapsody drew curious glances from several people at the center who stopped to watch. A bystander offered pupil Annette Garza a tip: The dance was about moving her backside.
“I am shaking it!” replied Garza, 64.
Donna Gordon, right, talks with students after class at the Walker Ranch Senior Center on Friday.
Their instructor said twerking is a fun way to work their abs, core and lower body. Most of all, it’s a way to get the blood moving and hearts pumping of a population she enjoys helping.
A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Vincent T. Davis embarked on a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Observing and listening across San Antonio, he finds intriguing tales to tell about everyday people. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning.
“There’s something special about seniors,” said Gordon, 60. “They want to be with you for the right reasons. They become a friend, like family.”
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In 1992, promoting fitness and health became her journey.
Gordon, a former trophy-winning bodybuilder, began inspiring older San Antonians to confront challenges they thought they couldn’t overcome. She offers personal training and fitness classes through her Survival of the Fittest Health and Wellness programs. Gordon said she’s had a variety of roles, such as corporate fitness specialist for Rackspace and health and wellness instructor at the YMCA.
She credits her stay-fit campaign to her mother, whose lessons Gordon shares at senior centers and nine memory care facilities. Gordon also founded the nonprofit I Care Memory Organization, in honor of her mother, Annie Ruth Statham, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Gordon’s relationship with her mother was a thread throughout her life. They attended the University of the Incarnate Word at the same time, both graduating in 1983. Gordon said the structure of her life enabled her to graduate with honors at age 20 with a bachelor’s degree in education and a year later with a master’s in adult education.
Students work out in the hip hop twerking class lead by Donna Gordon (not pictured) at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday. Gordon credits her mother with teaching her discipline that lead her to graduate with honors from the University of Incarnate Word, become a trophy-winning bodybuilder and serve as fitness trainer to older residents at memory care and senior centers.
Statham’s resume included singing the national anthem at Spurs games and performing “The Lord’s Prayer” during Pope Paul John II’s visit to San Antonio in 1987.
Her signature role was abolitionist Harriet Tubman, a character she portrayed at the Battle of Flowers Parade for more than 20 years. Gordon said her mother continued her performances to the delight of staff and residents at her memory care center.
“She was a praying woman and a leader,” Gordon said, “just like Harriett led people to freedom.”
Gordon’s mother died Nov. 30, 2018. She was 84.
Gordon became interested in staying fit after a difficult pregnancy. She weighed 255 pounds and developed gestational diabetes. A trainer dared her to enter a bodybuilding contest. She visited former Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman’s gym in Dallas and met bodybuilder Brian Dobson, who pushed her to a higher level of physical fitness.
She had to pick up and throw weights. She pushed a truck in neutral up a hill to build up her hamstrings. She wore wool sweats in the sweltering summer heat. Gordon competed as a bodybuilder for six years, winning several awards that included first place in the South Texas Bodybuilding Championship.
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Now, she’s offering that focus to seniors and the memory care community. Once a month, Gordon entertains seniors at memory centers, accompanied by the I Care Memory dancers — 12 seniors clad in colorful, hand-sewn costumes.
Gordon hopes to open a state-of-the-art senior center of her own one day for veterans and people with disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease with help from the nonprofit’s board of directors. The roster includes her mother’s friend and Battle of Flowers sponsor Clara Vaughn, Angela Soriano and Jerome Everett.
Katy Stephens, right, bursts into laughter with fellow student Annette Garza, left, in their hip hop Ttwerking class at the Walker Ranch Senior Center in San Antonio on Friday. Gordon credits her mother with teaching her discipline that lead her to graduate with honors from the University of Incarnate Word, become a trophy-winning bodybuilder and serve as fitness trainer to older residents at memory care and senior centers.
Michael Garza-Gongora, media relations creative director, learned about Gordon’s class from his mother, Vanessa. Both are on the board. He’s filming high-definition footage of fitness sessions for a short documentary on Gordon.
“She puts her mother’s face on each one of the seniors,” said Garza-Gongora, 33. “I’ve seen canes and walkers left at the door. She really gets them going.”
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After the class ended, the seniors surrounded Gordon for goodbye hugs. Marvin King Sr., 76, said he lost 7 pounds in four weeks of taking the class.
“I haven’t moved this much in 20 years,” King said.
Garza, a first-time participant, said she was excited to try the class that worked muscles not used in a while.
“I’m going to keep practicing,” she said. “If I get good enough, I’ll be twerking on my way.”
On Oct. 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Gordon will host a Spirituals and Souls fundraiser for the development of the I Care Memory nonprofit at 1316 Wiltshire Ave. Admission is $75 per person. The event, with a theme of Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, will include a silent auction and an ofrenda where attendees can place a photo of a family member.
For more information, go to icarememory.org. or icarememoryinquiry@gmail.com.
vtdavis@express-news.net
Vincent T. Davis started at the San Antonio Express-News in 1999 as a part-time City Desk Editorial Assistant working nights and weekends while attending San Antonio College and working on the staff of the campus newspaper, The Ranger. He completed a 3-month fellowship from the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University in 2003 and earned his bachelors degree in communication design from Texas State University in 2006.

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