No longer is working out with weights just for the young and superfit. New evidence suggests that older people who engage in a bit of weight lifting can benefit more than what was previously thought. I call my weight lifting classes 'PUMP'. And in one capacity or another I been bringing group exercise classes to communities for 20 years now. I was originally trained in Auckland and was one of the first seated exercise class providers in the Waikato area. Back then exercise equipment was paper plates, and balloons. Music was and still is age appropriate. When I started it was songs like 'roll out the barrell' and war tunes like 'we'll meet again'. Fast forward a couple of decades and it's more hooked on classics, Abba and Beatle's mixes. I suspect in another 20 years it will be ACDC and Def Leppard that will be booming out of my old dusty CD player, and if our bones can take it, maybe a bit of head banging for old times sake. Currently though none of that carry on can be found in my classes, but I will say that I am no longer as precious with my class members as I once was. If I was to present balloons and paper plates to my members these days they'd give me me what for, and rightly so.. Older people can be pushed a little further than previously thought. Perhaps after hundreds of classes I have also developed a bit of a 6th sense when it comes to connecting to the body language and needs of my class participants. No amount of theory can produce that priceless knowledge. Anybody can learn the technical skills with exercise physiology but it's experience combined with skills that will count the most, especially with this age group as safe exercising is crucial and there is not a lot of room for error. My class numbers in Whanganui have significantly grown in the last few years as more and more people realise the benefits and value that seated PUMP has to offer. Of course myself and my class members have known the benefits for many years and we wonder why its taken so long for others to catch on. We don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk. It was good to see in the Wanganui Chronicle recently 'Ask Dr Gary' Weight training for bone density at 80? You bet!. Where he advocates that resistance training (weight lifting) is his preferred option when dealing with issues like bone density. When we 'un pack' what that means in a wider context, it means that those who do regular weight lifting exercise will reduce the risk of broken or fractured bones. . First and foremost this means less stress on the individual, but also less stress on the family or wider circle of friends who might be in the position of informal care giving. Older people who are exercising significantly reduce the chances of going into residential care, or being hospitalised. Again not only does this impact on individuals but the ripple down affects us all as there is huge health costs that are associated with preventable falls. Addressing this issue leaves a little bit more money in the pot for those health issues that are unpreventable. My classes have been built up largely by word of mouth and the testimonies from my clients themselves. Big ups to my older exercisers for increasing the quality of your lives and taking responsibility for self directing your own health needs. There needs to be more recognition for those of you who are doing this as it's because of people like you, help the community as a whole.
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