Regardless of age or circumstance, the feeling that we should be doing more to keep fit is a common one for us all. But while this may be easy for suitably motivated younger people who are heavily targeted by gymnasiums and leisure centres, it can prove to be a daunting proposition for older people, who can often feel out of place or uncomfortable at hugely youth-oriented sports centres.
We also know how important remaining active and physically fit can be, particularly as we grow older. All manner of studies have proven that exercising with age is highly effective in preventing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, weight gain, diabetes and other diseases. The National Institute of Health conducted research last year that said an inactive lifestyle can cause older adults to lose ground in the four key areas that are important for staying healthy and independent; strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. The same research showed that even a small amount of exercise and physical activity can improve the health of older people. So why should exercise and keeping fit be the preserve of the young, when it is equally important for older people to stay active? Is the problem that Bristol does not offer enough exercise options to its older residents, or is it that the options are there, and are simply not being taken up?
Speaking to gymnasiums and leisure centres across Bristol about the classes they offered for older people, I received a number of varying responses. The majority didn’t offer any classes aimed specifically at the older generation but said that there was nothing stopping older people from using the gym. Many highlighted some of their ‘easier’ or ‘low-stress’ sessions and said that these would be suitable for older people wanting to improve their fitness. But this ignores the important point that many older people can find going to leisure centres which are often filled with super-fit, young people, an alienating and possibly humiliating experience. A number of the managers I spoke to were not particularly concerned by this issue however, and while they would be happy to welcome older people into the gym, ensuring that their experience was as enjoyable and as comfortable as possible, it did not appear to be a pressing concern. One manager, whose gym offered no classes for older people, bizarrely asserted that older people are more suited to hotel gyms as the quality of café was more important for older users than the quality of the gym or the equipment.
But there are also plenty of leisure centres in Bristol which do provide good services for older people. Ashton Park Sports Centre, located within Ashton Park secondary school in Bower Ashton, offers a specialist gym session for those aged 50 and over. A relaxed session on Tuesday mornings, users are shown how to use the fitness suite which includes treadmills, rowing machines and bikes. The session is run by a supervisor in order to ensure that all attendees are comfortable and looked after on the machines, and it is not necessary to be a member of the gym or to take an induction if you wish to attend. Speaking to the manager, she made it clear that many people move onto some of the gym’s more strenuous sessions once they have used the 50+ class to become more confident on the machines and built up some confidence. It is clear that attending a class aimed specifically for older people, such as the 50+ session at Ashton Park, can be a great way to build confidence in using the gym and can certainly be a great starting point for those wanting to improve their fitness and become more active.
Horfield Leisure Centre on Gloucester Road also offers excellent services for older people, with one octogenarian user describing it as the best gym in Bristol, primarily because the staff are so helpful, making her feel welcome, catered and cared for. This particular user enjoys the rowing and cycling machines, the weight machines and the swimming pool, and is certainly not put off by the abundance of younger people who also attend the gym. Her praise for the centre and its staff was so effusive that it extended to encouraging a greater number older people to use the gym, saying, “People may feel stupid [going to the gym] but they don’t have to. There are lots of older people up there.” One negative but interesting point that she did raise however, was that while there is a huge amount of advertising aimed at encouraging younger people to attend the gym, there was none for older people. Perhaps gyms and leisure centres need to do more to encourage and accommodate older members?
Swimming is another great way to stay active and there has never been a better time for older people to use Bristol’s various swimming pools, as the council introduced its free swimming initiative on April 1st 2009. Since that date, anyone in Bristol aged over 60 (and under 16) and in possession of an ‘Everyone Active’ card, can access a number of swimming pools across the city, free of charge. These ‘Everyone Active’ cards are free to obtain and are available at leisure centres and swimming pools throughout Bristol. Application forms can also be downloaded from the Bristol City Council website. The participating pools where the free swimming will be available are located in Henbury, Horfield, Jubilee, Bishopsworth, South Bristol (Bedminster) and Easton. When talking about the free swimming initiative, local councillor Rosalie Walker had this to say; “Swimming is an excellent sport for all-round fitness and well-being. I would encourage all those over 60 – and young people as well, to get their ‘Everyone Active’ cards now – so they can make the most of this exciting offer.” One regular user of the free swimming initiative commented on how good the scheme was, particularly for those on a small pension. Allied with a free bus pass, it makes it possible for older people to go swimming and it not cost them penny.
A common problem for people of all ages with finding the motivation to keep fit, is that exercise can sometimes be a boring and tedious activity. This however is not the case for the Keep Fit Association (KFA), as they run 50 dance classes each week throughout Bristol, aimed at keeping its members fit in a relaxing and, most importantly, an enjoyable way. Many of the classes the KFA runs are attended by people of all ages, but they also run a ‘Mature Moves’ session which is geared specifically for those aged 50 and over. If a body popping Granddad can find fame and fitness on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ then perhaps dancing might be the exercise choice for you!
Another fantastic and perhaps more relaxing way to get active is yoga. It can be a great way to build core stability, balance and mobility, as well as a good opportunity to meet new people. I spoke with yoga instructor Bob Phillips who teaches Iyengar yoga (a form of yoga known for its use of props) classes in Bedminster, and he considered yoga to be the best way for older people to relieve stress and promote physical and mental well-being. The guru and founder of this form of yoga, BKS Iyengar is still alive, and continues to teach and practice yoga today at the grand age of 90! While there may not be anyone quite as old as the guru himself in Bob’s class, he does have a regular student of 83 and several in their 60’s. There are dozens of yoga classes throughout Bristol, and it has been shown to benefit people who have a range of conditions often found in the over 50 age group such as arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, pelvic floor issues, declining mobility and loss of balance.
Richard Hamon
For more information on Swim 4 Free please contact your local pool:
Bishopsworth Swimming Pool
Tel: 0117 903 1600
Bristol South Swimming Pool
Tel: 0117 903 1618
Easton Leisure Centre
Tel: 0117 955 8840
Henbury Leisure Centre
Tel: 0117 353 2555
Horfield Leisure Centre
Tel: 0117 903 1643
Jubilee Swimming Pool
Tel: 0117 903 1607