Gym Shorts: Functional fitness helps you find your footing

In my last column, I talked about how those of us over the age of 60 may be prone to physical limitations if we are not active. It’s true that if you don’t use it, you will lose it. If you’re older and have some limitations, it’s important to consult with a physician to find out to what extent you can exercise. If you are looking to join a gym or any type of fitness program, talk to a coach first to find out how to help you meet your goals.

Look for a gym that has experience training seniors. It’s ideal if you can work with a coach who can personalize your work-outs and know how intense your work-outs can be – based on your age, fitness level, and any limitations or injuries.

“Functional fitness” now goes hand-in-hand with “use it or lose it.” For example, No Drama Fitness in Kincardine has a coach who is a functional fitness aging specialist. The gym also offers Balance and Fall Prevention classes for people who struggle with balance and co-ordination due to aging or medical issues. The goal of this class is to help people perform every-day activities safely and effectively. The coach focuses segments of the class on balance and co-ordination, strength, and mobility.

I interviewed two participants in the Balance and Fall Prevention Class. Kenneth Farrell said he joined the program this spring because of an inactive winter. “I knew I had to do something to get more active and get back on track,” he said.

After working with the coach in the class two times a week, the 77-year-old said he was able to go back to work on his shed. “I can reach up more easily and built shelves. These are things that I could not have done a few months ago.”

Seventy-nine-year-old Bob Scott is another participant in the same class. He had brain surgery in 2012, and said he joined simply to maintain his balance and prevent falls.

“I can balance better as a result of coming to this class and I want to be able to maintain that,” he said. “That’s why we’re here. To use it and not lose it.”

Both Kenneth and Bob found that working with a functional fitness coach was so beneficial to their health that they enrolled in a second round of weekly classes. Like most gym members they may grumble when they come in to start the class because they would rather be somewhere else. But by the time they leave class, both are sporting limber smiles … and bodies!

It doesn’t matter how old you are … fitness is for everyone.

Always consult with a medical professional or coach before starting a fitness program.



Bob Scott (left) and Kenneth Farrell (right) are put through their paces with their coach, Lisa Farrell; photos by Kim Dixon