55+ Fitness Classes - Part Two

More on the ideal fitness class for 55+ …



The sound level is very important for a 55+ class. Many of us are starting to have difficulty hearing, so it may surprise you to learn that the complaint I hear most frequently from my hard-of-hearing friends is that the music is TOO LOUD. It needs to be loud enough that we can hear the beat but not drown out the instructor’s directions. For people who wear hearing aids, music that is too loud can actually be painful.



Generally, lower impact is better for a 55+ class. Anyone who still has strong joints and sufficient energy can take it up a notch. Center your class around lower impact moves but provide higher impact variations for those who want them.



If you provide any step work, keep the moves fairly simple and avoid a lot of turning steps. Hard-of-hearing students need to be able to watch you and they can’t do that if you have them turn their backs to you too frequently. Also, it is easy to trip on the step if the moves get too complex. Most of your students should use just the bench or one set of risers. That’s sufficient to get the heart rate up.



Tags: fitness, age-appropriate exercise, step