FamilyInShape

Lessons from a Senior Fitness class

I teach a class at my gym called Senior Strength and Flexibility. Just about everyone in the class is a senior, you know, over fifty. In fact, I think over sixty and over seventy would still be accurate for some; but you get the idea.  The class consists of some aerobic workout, muscle conditioning and stretching.  Not necessarily in that order and not limited to this list.  I teach this class every week and, without fail, they show up unless of course there's medical reason or something really important getting in the way.  

Every week I try to introduce a new exercise or something different to the class for two reasons - first, I like to challenge the mind and body of everyone in the class, and second, I get bored doing the same old thing week after week. Recently, I missed a couple of classes due to my kids being sick and in the mean time I sort of stopped planning for the class.  I think I was waiting to be enlightened, I tried sitting under a tree but that didn't work for me.  I had no idea what I was going to do on this particular Thursday, that is, until I played a 70's Disco CD I borrowed from a friend.  There I was, dancing in the car on the way to class.  I felt the energy, the fun music and immediately started to come up with fun ideas for the class.   At first, I was a little hesitant because I'm always being told that "the older groups don't do well with change."  Oh well, I decided I'd give it a try anyway.

We set up the class, everyone had two sets of dumbbells, a Swiss ball kept in place by a riser, and a floor mat.  We set up in two rows, facing each other. The plan was that two of us would do some type of disco dance down the middle while the rest worked on muscle conditioning then we would switch.  To help them along I volunteered to dance with each and every one of them, needless to say there was some woohooing going on at the idea of them dancing.  Imagine that, exercising and having fun- what a concept. 

As soon as the music started their faces lit up. You could almost read their minds--I heard a few laughing and saying "oh my goodness, 70's music, how fun!" or "I can't remember how to dance to that," and "I loved the 70's." It was too cute.  They were all smiling.

They all started moving along, dancing with each other, with me, by themselves.  Needless to say, that was our warm up.  This is about the time when I started to relax and just go with the flow. Next, I gave them instructions on their first strength workout which was Military Press (3 sets/8 reps).  Meanwhile, I danced up and down the middle with the first lady, Ann. Then they did squats while I danced with Beth. We moved back to bicep, triceps, lunges, etc., until all seven ladies had a chance to dance and all of them did their strength workout. Every time I was done with one of them they all laughed and clapped and often times they cheered for the others.  

I was really amazed at the moves they were teaching me instead.  They had such a great time, I think they laughed the entire time.  Even the people in the hallway stopped to check us out.  It felt so good to see them having a great time while exercising.

Ellen, one of the ladies in the class, stayed behind to chat with me while I shut down the studio and collected my things and she said some really beautiful things.

"You know Terie," she said, "I had so much fun in this class and in every class you teach." 

{{Blush, blush}} "Well thank you, how sweet of you to say that."

"I'm not just saying this, we all say this.  When you are not here to teach us, we really, really miss you." 

Again, if my skin wasn't already the color of a cinnamon stick I would be red all over.  I'm sure I was, it just didn't show--Ha!! 

Anyway, she went on to say this: 

"The ladies in this class are so amazing.  They know the true meaning of happiness.  They know that laughter is the best medicine and we all come to this class because you always make us laugh, sweat, and leave us with the desire to come back every time and we get a chance to socialize and check on each other before and after class.  People have to realize that if they surround themselves with lots of people and laugh at each other and with each other they will be relieved of stress and their body will not be ailing so much, at least not due to stress.  Sometimes stress is the culprit of most of our ailments, people just have to start laughing, start loving, and start living, and I mean really living." 

Ellen and her northern European accent were about to make me cry.  She boosted my ego and my own self esteem, but more importantly she impressed upon me the importance of learning to lookout for ourselves and for each other very early in life so that when we reach the young age of 70 we may be able to continue laughing, loving and living a long, active life.

I was really touched by her words of wisdom.  I walked away feeling proud, happy, and with a lesson on life I will always treasure.

Stay well,

 

Photo by Michelle Gibson

There is no age limit for fitness

A woman joined an exercise class I was teaching about 45 minutes after the class had begun.  She came in, grabbed a mat and some equipment we happen to be using at the time. I approached her and gave her a medicine ball along with some directions about the next exercise.  She followed along as best as she could, performing crunches and other Pilates exercises I like to save for the end. 

After the class was over she approached me and introduced herself as Ms. Patti.  She wanted me to know that she was a former student back when the class was held at a later time, which is why she was so late.  She had been out for about three years due to surgeries and she explained that it was difficult getting back into a routine.  However, she realized that she needed to come back because she needed to "get in shape" and she had "made enough excuses."

Ms. Patti continued to explain that she felt her muscles were weak and quickly disappearing.  She was having trouble with her back and her joints as well.  She wanted help recovering the muscle tone and flexibility lost during her absence from the gym.  I was so impressed by her motivation and dedication to herself.  She was committed to improve her quality of life and to improve her social life by becoming more active.

Many people come and go from the gym.  Some buy a gym membership and use it for about two months out of the year; in January to get rid of the 5-7 pounds they gained over the holidays and again in May to get the body ready for bathing suit season.  Sure, that’s realistic.

I guessed Ms. Patti was about 70 years old.  She could have easily stayed home, knitting, watching her favorite TV shows, and waiting for meals on wheels to deliver her dinner.  Instead she decided to join her friends at the gym and attend a class that focuses on cardio, strength, and flexibility for seniors because she wants "to get in shape."  She likes to purchase and cook her own food, she likes to volunteer at the library, and she loves to socialize with her neighbors.

On a day when the temperature was about 40°F with wind chills as low as 34°F, many women would simply choose to stay home where its warm and cozy.  I know I would, I admit it.  It is so easy to use our environment as an excuse and we only cheat ourselves, no one else.  There have been plenty of cold or rainy days when all I want to do is ship the kiddos off to school and cuddle up on the couch with my favorite book, tea, the phone, the remote and the laptop, of course. 

Ms. Patti made a very wise decision.  She grabbed her gear, put on her exercise clothes and chose to do something she knows will improve her health and quality of life.  She decided to go exercise.
She motivates me and makes me think twice when I'm on the verge of doing something I know will sabotage all my hard work at the gym and on my plate.  I hope Ms. Patti's story inspires you to do the same.  Oh, I almost forgot, Ms. Patti's real age is 83 and she drives herself everywhere.

Stay well,

Spin Diva