FARMINGTON – Quietly moving from station to station, Mary Ohrenberger of Wilton only stopped to test her pulse as she worked out at Curves.

She’s no novice to the routine of pushing and pulling the hydraulic machines. It’s taken a little more than four years, but she completed her 1,000th exercise session this month.

The workout, for the slim woman of 78 years, helps her keep her strength, she said. She started after retiring because she gardened and did housework but wasn’t getting any real exercise, she said.

After working 25 years as a recreational therapist at a geriatric rehabilitation center in Boston where she encouraged other seniors to be more active, Ohrenberger said she tries to follow her own advice.

Along with keeping her strength, exercising helps with balance, stamina and flexibility, she said, and she likes being around people. Members of the salon are friendly, she said, and it gets her out of the house. Otherwise, she’d stay home and do nothing, she added.

“She’s very dedicated,” said Jody Harmon, owner of the local Curves. “She’s been an inspiration to so many others. People will give a hundred different excuses about exercising, then they see what Mary has done. She just does it, that whole Nike thing. Her No. 1 goal is to keep moving and keep her balance and muscle so that she doesn’t fall.”

Ohrenberger started at Curves when it opened in Wilton in 2003. When it moved to Farmington, she thought she wouldn’t drive over, but after a couple weeks, her doctor advised her to go back and do her exercise, she said.

Now, and even in winter, she comes every day that she can get out. Besides, Curves is on her way to her volunteer job, she said. After the workout, she heads up the street to the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation office to give of her time and talents.

Working beside Ohrenberger on Thursday, Anita Tucker said she is inspired by her, as are other members of Curves.

“She’s been exercising regularly since 2003 and is a retired volunteer,” Tucker said. “If she can do that, what excuse do I have?”

Ohrenberger inspires and also gives advice and encouragement, Tucker said.

“Mary is always encouraging them to not eat too much,” she said. “She reminds them that it takes more than exercise, you also have to watch what you eat.”

Ohrenberger said she eats everything she wants but in small portions and makes sure she gets her fruits and vegetables.

“We tease her a lot,” Tucker said, ” but everyone loves her. If she’s not there, they want to know why. She’s definitely our Curves Lady.”

Having exercised at times when Ohrenberger was there, Kathy Durrell of Wilton said she could always count on her being there.

“It’s inspiring that she would drive in from Wilton everyday and then go volunteer,” Durrell said. “Just being there with her made it fun to keep track of how many sessions she was getting in.”

Ohrenberger, who was honored this month by Curves members for completing 1,000 workouts, lived in the area as a child. At the urging of her daughter, she moved back after retirement. She’s also a devoted grandparent of three, Tucker said.