GROUP FITNESS
' YOUR OLDIES ARE SO CUTE '
SMASHING STEREOTYPES OF MATURE FITNESS PART 1
In this first of a two-part series Leigh Sherry and Lianne Tiemens discuss the need to shake up industry perceptions about fitness delivery to older adults .
L eigh Sherry is an accredited Exercise Physiologist based
in Sydney ’ s Northern Beaches , where she runs SmartLife ®
Health & Fitness . Leigh is also a group fitness instructor of more than 20 years . Leigh and I share an unstoppable drive and passion for fitness . The kind where we can push our clients and members to go further in life . We also both work closely with mature age participants . We recently sat down to discuss the image of mature fitness in the fitness industry .
It will make you a better trainer
“ The thing that frustrates me most is when people say about my senior participants , ‘ Your oldies are so cute ,’” Leigh starts off , “ my response is always the same ; one day this is you .”
Listening to Leigh ’ s comment I have to admit I share her frustration . As an aqua fitness instructor , I too experience this . I cannot even count how many times fellow gym-goers and trainers have said to me , “ It is so good to see the old people in your class exercise .” We sigh . We agree , unspoken , that these comments only fuel our drive to spread the word about the importance of ‘ mature fitness ’, as it is officially referred to .
When I first met Leigh a couple of years ago , I was impressed by her refreshing approach to fitness in general and her take on mature fitness in particular . It was inspiring to finally meet an expert and peer who doesn ’ t look down upon us trainers that work with older adults . As I tell Leigh , typically , the moment I mention to a fellow fitness professional that I teach aqua fitness classes , the standard reply is ‘ Isn ’ t that for old people ?’ Immediately , they write me off as a trainer and show absolutely no further interest in my professional skills and experience . It leaves me feeling like I am a B-Rated professional . It baffles me .
“ Actually ”, says Leigh , “ the skillset required for teaching mature age classes will benefit your coaching capacity in other populations . It makes you a better trainer .”
Leigh and I have a different educational background and we work in different areas , but between us we have close to 40 years of experience in group fitness and personal training . In all these years of instructing , it has been the work with mature age groups that has taught us most – both as trainers , and as humans .
Challenging expectations and skill sets
Our senior participants challenged our original skill sets from the getgo . As Leigh recalls the time she first started working with a group of war veterans , she highlights the importance of adapting and evolving the scripting and cueing , “ When I started working with this group , I realised they were used to a certain way of moving and believed that they were limited to this . I spent a lot of time on how I addressed this group with my scripting and my cues . My aim was to change their mindset and behaviour towards exercise , by explaining why certain movements were important and how they could be transferred to their day-to-day lives . Over time , the group ’ s morale changed and their resolve became stronger than ever before .”
For some older adult participants , their enthusiasm took them well beyond the boundaries of dedicated mature fitness classes . Leigh continues , “ One of the members that stood out to me was Billy . Billy was 82 at the time , and at one stage was doing 18 classes a week , including my BODYATTACK class . He loved being around the young energy . His zest for life and ‘ Bring it on !’ approach was contagious . So much so that ‘ Bring it on !’ became a catchphrase .”
We have both noticed that it can be an insidious approach by some sections of the fitness industry to make seniors feel like they are not capable of being exposed to certain types of exercise .
NETWORK SUMMER 2020 | 53