The senior population is the fastest growing population in the United States right now and many fitness facilities are developing special senior programs to tap into this market. The problem is that there are a few misconceptions about working with this population that need to be cleared up in order for fitness professionals to maximize their earning potential.

Misconception One:

When fitness professionals work with seniors, many of them believe that seniors are happy doing the same routine day after day, whether it’s an aerobics or weight lifting routine.

Fact One:

The fact is that seniors get bored, just like you and me, and they need some variety in their workouts. If you’re working with seniors, you can greatly decrease the dropout rate by simply adding an element of unpredictability to their workouts.

Misconception Two:

Seniors are frail.

Fact Two:
Seniors may have more brittle bones than their younger counterparts, but seniors who partake in regular exercise are anything but frail. It’s been my experience that most seniors are in better shape physically than the pre-teens that I work with. If you keep this in mind, then you’ll be more able to give seniors what they want when it comes to a cardio and strength training program.

Misconception Three:

Seniors have bad memories and won’t remember their last workout.

Fact Three:
I’ve yet to have a senior forget a workout or even forget the music I used while teaching an aerobics class. If anything, they’re more in tune with what’s going on because they’re exercising for enjoyment and health improvements that will give them a higher quality of life.

Working with seniors is a little bit different than working with a younger population. You do need to be aware that high impact exercise is not a good idea, complicated choreography will lose them, you’ll be working with people of many different ability levels with different types of medical conditions, and sometimes it takes a little more effort on your part to make sure that they both hear and understand what you’re telling them to do. But, if you take the time to focus on giving seniors challenging workouts, then you’ll maximize your income potential from this group and you’ll meet some of the nicest people you’ll ever work with.

Amy Giaquinto is an NFPT, ACE, and YMCA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Aerobics Instructor working in Longmont, CO. If you’d like to contact her, you can email her at amy@amysfitness.com.

Copyright 2002 Amy Giaquinto Seniors have bad memories and won’t remember their last workout.

Fact Three:
I’ve yet to have a senior forget a workout or even forget the music I used while teaching an aerobics class. If anything, they’re more in tune with what’s going on because they’re exercising for enjoyment and health improvements that will give them a higher quality of life.

Working with seniors is a little bit different than working with a younger population. You do need to be aware that high impact exercise is not a good idea, complicated choreography will lose them, you’ll be working with people of many different ability levels with different types of medical conditions, and sometimes it takes a little more effort on your part to make sure that they both hear and understand what you’re telling them to do. But, if you take the time to focus on giving seniors challenging workouts, then you’ll maximize your income potential from this group and you’ll meet some of the nicest people you’ll ever work with.

Amy Giaquinto is an NFPT, ACE, and YMCA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Aerobics Instructor working in Longmont, CO. If you’d like to contact her, you can email her at amy@amysfitness.com.