Reports indicate that seniors now represent the fastest growing segment of the health club population.
More Than 10 Million
Statistics from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) reveal that people over 55 years of age account for about 17 percent of gym-goers. More than 10 million health club members were over 55 in 2004, an increase of over 5 million since 1998 and more than 8 million since 1993.
Health Clubs Reach Out
Although many gyms and fitness organizations still target young people, some have begun reaching out to seniors with classes such as chair aerobics or low-impact dance classes, along with regular programs like water workouts, yoga, and tai chi, which have always been popular with seniors.
Other clubs cater to seniors by offering these classes in the late-morning hours, after the morning rush of the working crowd.
Fitness experts say that seniors who stay active can help keep themselves mobile and independent as they age.
This is a promising development. It's good to see that more and more seniors are getting smarter about optimizing their health through exercise, as exercise can help prevent the onset of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and many other preventable diseases that are currently considered to be the inevitable ravages of age.
If you want to keep your health well into old age, one of the best things you can do is develop (or maintain) a regular exercise program. There are a number of excellent resources out there for exercise; you can review mine or search online or in your book store for further resources.
The trick about exercise: If you want to get healthy, try viewing it like a drug that needs to be precisely prescribed to achieve maximum benefits. In fact, it is my belief that for most of us exercise is one of the most potent "drugs" that we have available, as it is crucial to normalize insulin and leptin levels that control your health.
I've devoted many pages on my Web site to help you get started on an exercise program. I urge you to start with my beginner's page, or review some of the previous columns I've posted by contributing editors Paul Chek and Ben Lerner.