My Love For Older Adult Fitness
Commitment
My journey and commitment to older adult fitness took place a long time ago. And as you might suspect it started with a love for my grandparents. But my love and commitment to older adult fitness are different than you might think.
I loved my maternal grandmother. The way her house smelled and felt just brings back the greatest memories.
I remember counting railroad cars with her as a child and the sound of the trains near her Memphis home.
Personal Story
The first one of us to fall asleep would win a quarter. I always won that quarter. Even though I heard her snoring just minutes after her head would hit the pillow.
And my fraternal grandfather was a spiritually sound man. He taught me the basics of Christianity in a way that even today sounds correct.
I still see him in my dreams, to this day, reminding me to remain calm during my most difficult times.
He had a Ph.D. in Theology. He got his Master’s Degree at TCU the same university that both of my boys attended. Unintentionally though, but not by Granddad.
I grew up visiting the Cumberland Presbyterian Seminary in Memphis and playing there in the building with my brothers when we visited as children.
My grandfather, Dr. Ingram, was the president of that seminary for many years. And I was always so proud of my grandfather. Here’s a link to his Wikipedia Page.
But as an adult, I looked back on all the times I missed with my grandparents because I grew up several hundred miles away from them.
They lived in Memphis, TN and I grew up in Houston, Texas. I longed for a relationship with my grandparents that I never truly got due to the distance.
While in college I did a thesis for my undergraduate degree in psychology. That paper was on depression and older adults.
I proudly got an A on that paper. I have always had a love and respect for the older adult population.
Alzheimer’s Facility
Shortly after my divorce in 2000, I got a job as an Activities Coordinator at an Alzheimer’s Facility.
I loved that job. It was so much fun and the patients told me daily that they loved me. 💜
It was almost like they knew that was something that must be said on a regular basis. Sometimes several times a day.
Water Aerobics Instructor
I had been in Water Aerobics Class at the TW Davis YMCA since the birth of my youngest son in 1998. Most of the participants in that class were the older adult population.
I loved that class and I grew close to the participants.
So when one of the instructors was due to have surgery in the winter of 2000. I stepped up to the plate when asked if I wanted to teach the class.
It was then my love for older adult fitness was given a birth date.
Little did I know that would I battle imposter syndrome on steroids, totally step out of my comfort zone, and even make some of the best friends of my life in the older adult population.
There was Sandy. She had fibromyalgia, something new to the medical world at this time. She came to class daily and was always smiling. That smile really meant something because she was in severe pain daily. Yet she never complained.
She not only took my Water Aerobics Class at 9:00 but stayed for my Arthritis class at 10:00. Sandy knew the importance of movement in her body. She also knew that one of the only places where movement did not hurt as badly was in the water.
Certified Specialist in Senior Fitness
In 2004 I got my certification as a Specialist in Older Adult Fitness. I was already a Certified Fitness Trainer and Instructor and I figured this certification would help me along on my fitness journey. And it did.
Silver Sneakers©️
Our YMCA was going to offer Silver Sneakers©️ in 2006. Our older adult population was huge at this time. In fact, it was the majority of our members and our YMCA was bustling with older adults from 8 am -11 am daily. I had found my niche.
I started teaching Silver Sneakers©️ in 2006 and immediately fell in love. I loved how I would walk in on a Monday morning to teach my class and ask everyone how they were doing. In unison, they would blurt out, “Ugh, it’s Monday.”
“Really?” I would ask. “Every one of you is retired, what makes it different from any other day?” They would giggle and we’d get started.
It was then and there that I dedicated my older adult work to my grandparents. The ones I never got to be close to due to the distance.
Popularity
I was known around town by the older adult population. My kids would joke with me that all the old people knew me because everywhere we’d go I’d see someone that knew me from my classes.
In 2008 I stumbled upon the opportunity to open a studio that was closing down due to the age of the owner. The studio was called Body Designer and the owner was Sally Nelson. She was 90 years old at the time.
This studio had these exercise beds called TheraPlex Units. These beds would provide exercise to completely disabled people to those who really did not like exercise. And they worked. It was amazing.
Body Designer
I got robbed when I purchased that studio in 2008. It actually led to my financial demise and even eventually lost the house that I had purchased in 2003.
And that’s another story (or three) to be discussed another day.
My older adult population followed me to this studio. I had several who loved the beds because finally, they were getting the exercise that they so desperately needed.
I also worked with accident victims and those who were completely disabled, they were probably my favorite clients. I loved working there.
But as I said that led to my financial demise. I still taught Water Aerobics, and Silver Sneakers, and even trained a few here and there. I even taught very popular boot camp classes at my studio.
Fitness and Wellness Director
In my mind, God always takes care of me. And this studio and working at that TW Davis YMCA led me to Cynthia Barratt, the President, and CEO of OCuSOFT. Blog post on that here!
And today I am well on my way to teaching those at Southwest Research and Technology Center all my fitness, mindset, habit, and wellness content as their Fitness and Wellness Director.
TW Davis YMCA Closes Permanently (read about it here)
In May 2021 the TW Davis was closed down permanently. You can read that story here. It was then that I completely lost touch with all of my older adult population. Why? Because the gym closed during the pandemic and never re-opened.
I still see some of them from time to time around town. But many do not go online to find exercise. That is just not their style. But if they do, or if you happen to be one of them. I am here!
Today
As a Certified Specialist in Senior Fitness, I take 10 hours of continuing education a year to maintain my certification. And also to stay on top of the ever-changing industry of fitness.
And today I am considered an older adult myself. I am closer to 60 than I am to 50. 😉
But my fitness routine and education keep me young and definitely transforms my life and mindset.
Watch this video now on Aging and Reverse Aging and Reality Transurfing, States of Mind, Fitness, and Mindset.
Fitness and Hormones
I teach others how to transform their lives via mindset. I’m in the process of creating a course on Fitness on Hormones (menopause). Yes, the workouts I teach truly help with your hormones and more!
I have a ton of free content on this as well. I also have a Facebook Group called Combat Aging with Wellness. Feel free to join us there.
And remember my fitness with older adults journey started with a dedication to my grandparents. Something that continues today.
You can find me listening to the trains in Sugar Land, Texas, and reliving those great memories in Memphis, Tennessee.
And when times get hard, as they often do, Grandad is there in my dreams reminding me that I am guided and protected.