In Mark’s experience, that
central hub room can often be
the last place a new, older visitor
would want to be thrown into.
“A lot of our group classes
start at a really low level – like
aqua training, where the water
is bearing your weight. From
there we’d suggest legs, bums
and tums, then on to something
like body pump and HIIT-type
classes. Having that initial entry-
level range allows the latter,
more advanced group sessions,
to seem less intimidating.
“Another way we’ve begun to
introduce the gym environment
to older users is to hold daytime
classes in the gym, not one of
the studios. That way, those
taking part in the class can see
the variety of people using the
gym – and vice versa.
or your classes as being
welcoming to older clients –
we used National Fitness Day
recently to start a new class
aimed at the over 50s and it got
a huge turnout. It doesn’t need
to be anything too radical, just
little tweaks that could orientate
certain sessions at certain
times of the week towards older
gym users.”
production/Shutterstock.com
“You’ve also got to be confident
about advertising yourself
“
Place a high
importance
on starting
at a low
level, then
work up
from there.”
on-the-job mistakes? Is that
something that courses can
build in?
“When you’re doing your Level
3 courses you talk about older
people, about starting off by
finding someone’s level. But
learning to figure someone
new out does really only come
with experience, with having
those initial conversations and
assessments dozens of times.”
Helping older people feel at
ease in the gym environment
is another big push from David
Lloyd, something which is
harder with a budget gym setup,
where the building is often one
big open-plan training floor.
Next steps
Find out more about David Lloyd’s initiative at
davidlloyd.co.uk/active-ageing
@REPsUK
FM 13