One of the very first things I did when I got laid off a couple of months ago was to dive into some of the morning group fitness classes at the Glens Falls YMCA that I would not usually be able to attend due to work. One thing my partner and I noticed when we moved up here last year was the number of older adults living in the area. In fact, some of our very first friends were seniors. It’s a great place to retire. With that said, I also noticed something remarkable I rarely saw living in Bergen County (and New York City, for that matter): Middle-aged and senior silver-haired women (sans fillers and plastic surgery). Ladies all seem to ditch the dye and age naturally. Why am I sharing this? Who attends the morning group fitness classes at the YMCA? You guessed it, the senior ladies.
These senior ladies, ranging in what looked like ages 60 to 80, are a lively, fun, and social bunch. They attend spin, Zumba, step, yoga, and aqua aerobics, the latter a veritable party. I love that some of the instructors are also my age and older. At first, I was apprehensive about attending classes with so many older women. Would I fit in? Would I get a great workout? Would I face my own fear of aging? The answer to all three is a resounding yes! These older ladies (and a handful of older men) are exemplary role models of senior well-being – physically, mentally, and socially. I am welcome in all of the classes I attend. In the more active classes, I also engage in a healthy sense of competition by pushing myself not to be outdone by someone ten years my senior!
To further my point, a few months ago, I wrapped up a series of personal training sessions with a 64- year old personal trainer. He is officially retired and trains clients out of his love of fitness. As a former personal trainer myself, it’s been something I see myself doing after I officially retire, and there I was getting a bird’s eye view of my future too.
Countless studies link both exercise and being socially connected to longevity. They are a sure-fire double-whammy of well-being that often go hand-in-hand. It’s one of the reasons I am such a fan of social fitness. They are the magic elixirs of life, and the sooner you engage in these life-giving activities, the more you reap the rewards. The great news is that you don’t need to become a super-athlete or an overly social butterfly. The trick is consistency over intensity. Here is a great article explaining the sociability-longevity connection with tips to expand your social network.
Being surrounded by such great role models at the gym and immersing myself in a sea of silver hair, I am peering into a future where I don’t fear aging. Instead, it’s inspired me to embrace it and put myself on a path that when I am ready to retire, I will be as joyful and active as they are.
bendburnbreathe.com 