Joan Celebrates 100th Birthday at the Moody Family YMCA

What does a 100-year-old's fitness routine look like? Ask Joan Eichner. Today, Joan celebrated her 100th birthday at the Moody Family YMCA. As an active member of the gym, she attends three aqua fitness classes every week. She joined the Y 30 years ago when she moved to North Texas to help take care of her grandchildren, who also learned how to swim at the Moody Y and eventually joined the swim team.

"I love the water, but I love the friendships. We sit here in the corner in the morning after we have been in the pool, we drink coffee, and we talk," said Eichner.

When asked what her secret to a long life was, she said it came down to two things.

"I often say wine and chocolates, but my daughters said, 'Don't say that today, you're at the YMCA!'" she shared with a laugh.

"This is how she lives her life. Every day, she has a plan for every day for what she wants to do," said Deborah Eichner, Joan's daughter. "It may be we go to the arboretum, it may be we come to the Y,  it may be we do something with her church, she's active in projects. But every day she wakes up, and she has things that she wants to do." 

Joan volunteers at her church every month and believes that staying active keeps her motivated.

"When you don't want to get out of bed in the morning, get up, keep going. That's the best thing I can say," said Eichner.