As part of Sunday's heart-healthy activities, Mike Graham twisted a hula hoop around his hips at the Wabash Senior Citizens Center.

The hula hoop contest was one of Sunday's exercises designed for the Day of Dance for Heart Health.

"It's good exercise and it beats lifting weights," said Connie West of Linton, a center member who participates in dance.

Sunday's event offered exercises, healthy snacks and health literature for senior center members and nonmembers. Sycamore Manor Retirement Community provided healthy refreshments, such as whole-wheat snickerdoodle cookies.

"Exercise is good for your health and good for your heart," said Josie Blake, executive director of the center. "We want people to come out, have fun and exercise."

Smiles and laughter showed the 20 people who attended knew how to have fun while they moved to music, whether it was line dancing or Tai-Chi.

"We have a lot of fun," said Pat Herrington, who drives from Spencer to visit friends like West and Sharon Ruddock at the senior center. "It's a good bunch of people."

Judy Mullican, who is also a dance instructor at the senior center, organized Sunday's program.

"Some people think this is a place where people go when they have nothing else to do, but people come here regularly," she said, citing weekly bingo games, art classes card-playing groups and Spanish classes.

The senior center offers exercise classes and beginning and advanced dance classes for people over age 50. Whether the activity is couples dancing, country line dancing, bellydancing or Tai-Chi, those who exercise at the senior center say it helps them keep their mind and body active.

"It keeps people from being lonely," said Joan Boo of Seelyville. "It keeps your body physically healthy and you meet a lot of nice people."