On my refrigerator is a quote that says, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” I don’t know who said it, but it’s perfect to me, because it throws daggers into the heart of an old way of thinking and living. Perhaps due to a spinal cord injury and substantial loss of physical ability at the age of 22, I have a philosophy that is basically “the older I get, the harder I’m going to work to keep what I have.”
There’s a lot of research out there that documents the benefits of exercise in reducing and even reversing the effects of aging. For example, a 1996 Tufts University study pointed out the value of intensive strength training for seniors. In the study, people into their late 90s trained at the same level of intensity as younger people. “Level of intensity” is defined as doing repetitive lifts at 70 to 80 percent of the maximum amount of weight you can lift. The result? No one got hurt . . . they got stronger.
But for many people who haven’t been active, the challenge is getting started. Fitness experts say the secret is finding something you enjoy doing, and then sticking with it. For me, it’s bicycling in the summer, and cross country skiing in the winter—anything to get me outdoors. To supplement my endurance activities, I also work out with weights and work on core strength, flexibility, and balance in a fitness facility.
How do you find a fitness facility that’s suitable for those of us 50 and over? The good news is that as we baby boomers age, there are fitness centers popping up around the country aimed at serving older clients.
One such place is called Nifty after Fifty; it’s a California based company focused on meeting the needs of the growing 50-plus population. They offer services tailored to an older clientele, with smooth air-pressure driven machines instead of weights, and recumbent total body steppers that are easier on the joints. Their fitness “coaches” have advanced degrees in kinesiology and specialized training in the fitness needs of mature adults. Another is Healthfit, a Needham, Massachusetts, fitness club where paintings adorn the walls and the average age of the clientele is over 50.
Club 50 is a fitness chain with 47 locations across the U.S., including Hawaii. It caters to the 50-plus crowd with a program that combines cardio, strength training, and nutrition in a 30-minute workout that also includes a diet and nutritional program. The club uses hydraulic resistance equipment that accommodates a wide range of abilities and fitness levels.
The International Council on Aging website includes a checklist of things to look for in choosing a fitness club and trainer that are “age-friendly.” They even have a facility locator to help find age-friendly clubs in your area. Check it out at http://www.icaa.cc/consumer/age-friendlyguides.htm. The bottom line: there are a growing number of fitness opportunities out there for us baby-boomers. So get out there and act your age.
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