POLSON — Under the sign, “Age is nothing but a state of mind,” 96-year-old Jim Eichhorn begins his routine.

It’s Wednesday afternoon, and time for circuit training. He’s not exactly looking forward to the next 30 minutes. But that’s not the point. His mindset follows what’s printed above. For the past two months, he’s been faithful to his workout and the way he’s going now, you’d never know his 97th birthday is on Saturday.

Still, it’s surprising to find someone like Eichhorn — who drives himself everywhere and lives independently with his 93-year-old wife of 67 years, Grace — at the traditionally all-women workout facility.

He’s survived at least three railroad accidents that should have taken his life, colon cancer in the early 1990s, and a car accident where a drunk driver hit him head-on. In January 2008, Eichhorn had a total hip replacement.

“That old hip was killing me,” he said as he stepped under the shoulder lift machine. “So I decided to get rid of it.”

The success operation replaced the hip that gave him pain throughout the day. The physical therapy before and after the surgery started him on a workout schedule. When the doctor-mandated training ended, Eichhorn thought he’d continue some sort of activity. With the help of his granddaughter, they found Curves.

It’s a 30-minute balanced circuit program based on resistance. Curves owner Tammy Skogen opened the traditionally all-women workout area to men, hoping to cater to the over 65 age group who can benefit from the total body workout that works the eight major muscle groups, as well as gives couples a chance to work out together.

When Eichhorn started coming two months ago, his granddaughter would help him from station to station. Now, he’s on his own.

 Eichhorn usually skips the cardio component of the workout, and relies on the machines to improve leg and arm strength. Coming three days a week, the improvements in Eichhorn’s strength have been phenomenal, Skogen said. It’s easier to get in and out of higher cars and range of movement of his arms is greater.

Eichhorn’s former tactics for staying in shape never before involved a gym. The old-style way of staying in shape was riding and training horses and cutting trails.

Eichhorn was born in Miles City and is no stranger to hard work and physical activity. At age 7, he walked most of the way to Scobey with his brothers an the family’s livestock. He went through school in Scobey, moved to western Montana when he was 17, and got a job in St. Ignatius dairy.

When he was 23, he got a job as on the railroads and was a conductor for 35 years. He bought five acres of land on Rocky Point - for $3,100 - and built a house there.

After retiring from the railroad, he trained and sold horse, often riding alone into the mountains to cut trails for the U.S. Forest Service.

Eichhorn and Grace have since moved into town and sold their horses.

It seems some of Eichhorn’s fondest memories come from this horses. And with the workouts, he’s hoping to be back in the saddle again soon.

“Riding a horse is good exercise no matter what,” Eichhorn said. “I worked out on horses.”

Eichhorn ends his circuit on the stretching component. He’s done for the day and says he’ll sleep good tonight. He won’t be back on Friday, that’s the night of the Polson Fairgrounds Inc. Cowboy Ball. Eichhorn figured he’d skip the workout and do some dancing.