55+ Fitness Classes - Part Three

Concluding my answer to fitness instructor Lisa – more on the ideal fitness class for 55+ …



Don’t take it personally if you see students avoiding certain moves you are teaching. If there is opportunity before or after class, ask why privately. Just reflecting on the students in the last class I attended, one woman had frozen shoulders and couldn’t raise her arms much higher than shoulder level. Another had a difficult time getting up after mat work due to positional vertigo. Several had bad knees or backs. You get the idea.



When you know what the issues are, you can design a class that will work for everyone. Be sure the routines hit all the fitness basics: flexibility; strength; balance; and aerobic capacity. If you teach the same group of students three or four times a week, you can do this by focusing on strength one day and aerobics the next.



Personally, I prefer a similarly-balanced class every day but with varying moves. My ideal class contains about five minutes of warm-up, 20 to 25 minutes of aerobics, five minutes of cool down, 20 to 25 minutes of toning/strength work (standing and mat), and five to 10 minutes of stretching. I also enjoy a class where the entire 40-45 minute middle section is aerobics combined with strength work (like Body Sculpt or The Firm).



Boy, it felt good to get that all off my chest! Thanks again for asking Lisa. Your 55+ students are lucky to have you.



Tags: fitness, age-appropriate exercise, fitness basics