What a treat it is to preach to the choir. I did a talk for an active group of seniors at my home gym earlier today. They do a moderately intense exercise class called [Fusion Stretch] on Tuesday and Thursday of every week, and have a separate workshop once a month after class. The talk was about exercising at home and on the road when traveling.
They are a motivated group. They have passed through that psychic shift I wrote about last week; That shift that occurs at the point when a person shifts from a “move away from pain” perspective, to a “move toward a goal” perspective — from “I simply want to whatever, to where they say “I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach this goal.” Want doesn’t count — being willing does.
This particular group is made up of primarily Senior men and women who want to stay healthy and fit, and get together as a group to move for an hour of fun and invigorating exercise. They enjoy being together and exercising together as a group.
I believe for many Seniors, group exercise is far more beneficial that trying to get in a good workout by themselves. Many people need the support of having a group around them. Exercise at home or by yourself can be lonely and difficult to become motivated to begin. And there is no accountability except to yourself. For some, that’s all the accountability they need. For others, they need the motivation of being accountable to a group.
Most health clubs and gyms have group classes for many different exercise levels. My home gym offers Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Fusion Stretch and several other classes. It also also offers a boot camp style program for people looking for a more intense style of exercise.
Many years ago I participated in the original boot camp style fitness program that swept the country in the 1980s and 90s. I was in the parking lot of a Community Center or Shopping Center every weekday morning at 6:00 AM. I loved it. I was in my early sixties hanging around with men and women in their thirties and forties. I showed up every day, but for those who didn’t, the class wanted to know why. They held you accountable.
Why can group exercise be so beneficial? Here are three basic reasons.
- Camaraderie and friendship
- “The Tribe” and the associated Group Dynamics. You’ll do what the others do.
- Group accountability. If you don’t show up for a session, you are accountable to the group as to why not. Often, this accountability alone makes the decision whether you show up.
For Seniors who understand the importance and value of exercise, but who don’t want to do it by themselves, the obvious answer for some is to find an exercise group, join it, and then show up. You are much more likely to stick with it and reach whatever goal you have set for yourself.
Thank you for reading.