Thankfully the days of skin-tight Danskins and leg warmers at the local gym are but a memory. Next to the 20-something crowd in the weight room is a growing demographic of senior citizens, growing since the late ‘90s when the
Thankfully the days of skin-tight Danskins and leg warmers at the local gym are but a memory. Next to the 20-something crowd in the weight room is a growing demographic of senior citizens, growing since the late ‘90s when the surgeon general released a report saying that “no one is too old to enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity.”
Public awareness coupled with insurance companies realizing the cost saving benefits, flexing, for the elderly, is more than a growing trend, it has become a lifestyle choice.
If you are over 65 years old and insured by Humana or Secure Horizon, your gym membership at Kaua‘i Athletic Club is free. Healthways SilverSneakers fitness program became available at the gym last year — but it is hardly a new concept for the club’s fitness director Sunday Murch, who helped open the Kaua‘i Athletic Club 25 years ago.
Murch noticed the increased interest of senior citizens over a decade ago when she attended a fitness convention in San Diego. Classes taken there inspired her to start the program, “Fitness After 60” at the athletic club. The gym offers Kaua‘i’s seniors a minimal monthly rate of $38 and no initiation fee if they are at least 60 years old.
The monthly rate includes all classes and use of the facilities. Seven days a week the club offers a variety of group fitness and dance classes, but the senior population can take full advantage of all the club has to offer.
“They can take any class,” said Murch. “We have lots of seniors who don’t take classes — a big group swims or works out in the weight room and cardio room.”
Fitness After 60 offers classes developed for senior citizens at 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Classes vary — there are cardiovascular, stretch and strengthening classes, yoga and dance. Two classes a week are now SilverSneaker-certified.
Last year Murch integrated SilverSneakers into her already well-attended senior fitness program when a representative of an insurance company came to the gym.
“He told me they pay per student through the insurance — Secure Horizon or Humana,” she said.
Murch and her instructors were certified for the program by Healthways.
“They came here to train us,” she said.
The difference between what Murch had developed over the last decade and the SilverSneakers class is minimal.
“SilverSneakers had us add chairs.”
The chairs are available for seniors who may need to exercise from a seated position or take a moment’s reprieve from the class.
Murch said most of her seniors balked at the presence of chairs at first, telling their instructors, “We don’t want to sit down.”
Murch attests to the high level of fitness among her older crowd, some of whom attend two to three classes daily.
“They’re in better shape than I am,” she laughed.
Chairs aside, the classes offered at the athletic club have crowd appeal because of the variety. On Mondays, a senior aerobics class with Terri Halliday is continuous movement that segues from a cardiovascular dance routine choreographed to swing and show tunes, to balance work with poles — and a finale of deep, gentle stretches on the floor.
Lisa Raphael, 73, of Wailua said, “It’s like a social club here. When you retire you don’t have a routine. It’s very grounding to start the day with a class.”
Raphael also appreciates being “around other bodies,” she said. “It’s not just about moving the body — if you can start moving the body, it releases the mind.”
She discovered the SilverSneakers program while living in Florida. A letter arrived from her insurance company telling her she could attend her local gym for free.
One of the reasons HealthWays provides certification for the gym instructors is to create continuity in their classes, said Murch.
“Anyone who comes here worldwide can expect the same format — there’s a certain rhythm to the class,” she said.
All of the senior fitness classes are from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The SilverSneakers classes are Wednesday and Friday. Monday is aerobics, Tuesday is hula-aerobics and there is a senior yoga class on Thursday.
“We offer different classes every day,” said Murch. “By doing a lot of different things it challenges the mind.”
The Kaua‘i Athletic Club has at least 500 senior members.
“Three-quarters of our seniors started with us over 10 years ago,” said Murch.
For more information about membership call 245-5381.
Senior fitness program at Kaua‘i Athletic Club
• All classes are from
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Monday — aerobics
Tuesday — hula aerobics
Wednesday — SilverSneakers II
Thursday — yoga
Friday — SilverSneakers I
•Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
