By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Monday through Friday one can almost always find Ephner Bowin at the Performance Enhancement Center, faithfully going through his upper or lower body workout on the Nautilus machines.
Although he has only been working out on the machines for about two years, Bowin doesn't take his weight training lightly, as can be seen by his biceps and pectoral muscles.
Mike Giager, owner and physical therapist at PEC, has guided Bowin in the proper use of the machines to enhance his physical workouts.
While weight training is a fairly new facet of fitness for Bowin, his dedication to fitness has been with him his whole life. That's quite a few years for Bowin, who will turn 93 on Oct. 26.
"When people ask how old I am and I tell them I am 92, they don't believe me," he said. "I just feel better after I exercise. I feel good. I don't have any aches or pains, other than when I get up in the morning sometimes I'm a little stiff. If I feel stiff in the morning, I know coming out here will limber up my legs and arms so that motivates me."
Stiffness of the joints may be motivation, but Bowin has been motivated to include exercise in his daily routine nearly his entire life.
"A great deal has to do with your attitude. It's good to stay active and do things to keep your mind active. Good hard work doesn't hurt anybody," Bowin said. "When I was a young man, before I started college, I worked on a farm and did a lot of manual labor. I love to work."
The Navy kept Bowin in shape, doing pushups and other exercises. When he got out, the ball was in his court to stay active.
While finishing up his master's degree in business and teaching at Labette Community College for 31 years, Bowin would jog at least two miles a day.
He retired in 1980, at age 65, but still kept up his daily jogging routine.
"I finally quit jogging in 2000. That was seven years ago so I was 85." Bowin said. "I cut down to walking when my knees started to give me a little trouble, so I walk a couple miles now instead of jogging."
Most days, Bowin's wife, Lillian, joins him at the fitness center. Together they work out, try to eat right and stay fit.
Praising her husband's good health and physical condition, Mrs. Bowin joked, "I picked him up at Wal-Mart. Bet you never found a deal like that there."
The two had both lost their spouses and after running into each other at Wal-Mart the two ended up going on an informal date. They were married in 2003.
Mrs. Bowin said she admires her husband's stamina.
"I'd like to be that old and in that good of health," she said.
Bowin said he is in pretty great health for a man his age, and only has to visit the doctor occasionally for check ups.
"I've always kidded my brother that I'm going to live to be 120 ... but that's only a goal," he said.
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