Diana Hoffman, shown above second from left, wants her neighbors to be active and healthy, even while engaging social distancing. She has opened her driveway and lawn for neighbors to get together and exercise several times a week, even while staying at least six feet apart. (Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
Diana Hoffman wants people to be healthy — physically and socially.
The former Marysville Middle School gym teacher knows that’s complicated in the world today. With gyms closed and social distancing ordered, it can be difficult to stay physically active and even more difficult to engage with other people.
So, Hoffman decided to do something about that.
Rocking on Brock is a neighborhood workout event at Hoffman’s home, 9312 Brock Road.
Each Monday and Wednesday at 3 p.m., neighbors are encouraged to show up, spread out and exercise for 30 minutes.
“Any fitness level can come,” Hoffman said. “We will modify or you can do your best, but just come and exercise and be part of the group.
Hoffman brings a speaker and plays music from her phone as she leads the 30-minute session. Exercises ranged from gentle arm circles and stretches to mountain climbers and minute long planks.
Hoffman acknowledges the idea was not hers originally, she saw it first in a neighborhood in northern Ohio when she went to visit family.
“I thought, ‘We could do that. We could get together and exercise,’” Hoffman said.
She explained that she has a long driveway where people can park and enough lawn that people can spread out so they are together, but not close.
Hoffman will lead the Monday sessions and Laura Mastella, a neighbor and fitness instructor, will lead Wednesdays.
Mastella wasn’t originally part of the plan.
She said she saw a flier from Hoffman announcing the new group. Mastella saw the value of the event and called to help
“We live out in the country and so we don’t really know all of our neighbors, so what better way to get to know everybody than by exercising,” she said.
Hoffman acknowledged how important the social aspect is.
“It’s fun because we can chat and get to know people,” Hoffman said.
Discussion at Monday’s gathering meandered from neighbors they all know, to the quarantine, to fitness and eating to wine and the daily must watch press conferences with Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton.
“I just don’t feel right drinking wine that early in the day on a weekday,” one participant said.
Many of the participants were either retired or working from home.
“We are constantly looking for activities to fill up the day so we have something to look forward to,” said Marty Parker, a neighbor who brought his wife and children.
He said with both he and his wife working from home now and the children out of school, “we try to put as many things on the calendar as possible.”
Tracy Tinlin says she is a neighbor, who lives “just down the road, but way, way back.” She said she appreciates that Hoffman is doing something.
“She is trying to get us into shape. She is a wonderful neighbor,” Tinlin said.
She explained that she is rehabbing from an injury and the stretching is good for her.
Tinlin was part of the first session and she, “had a blast.”
So much so, she brought a friend from another neighborhood.
And that’s part of the point, Hoffman said.
“I want this to go viral,” she said. “I want everybody doing this, every neighborhood can do this — exercise and get to know each other.”
She added, “I just want people to be healthy so they can do whatever they want for as long as they can, get healthy. I loved teaching and I have a passion for the ‘older’ kid in each of us.”