fitness

Some Thoughts on Adult P.E.

Posted on Friday, January 26th, 2018 at 3:37 am    

I did a short triathlon last weekend.  It was a course I’d done before and I was with my triathlon team.  I was thrilled when I got 2nd place in my age group and insisted that we wait around – in the cold and rain – for over an hour so I could stand on the podium and collect my commemorative beer glass (even though I don’t drink beer).

The race official started the awards announcements with the younger age categories.  As he read the names of the winners in the 20-24 age group, the podium was bare. He moved on to 25-29 and 30-34, and so on.  Nearly every time, only 1 or 2 people climbed the podium.  However, when he got to the 45-49 age group and higher, the podium was full.  Nearly all of the winners, men and women, in the “older” age groups had braved the elements and waited their turn to stand on the podium.  As the ages got higher, the cheers got louder and longer.  Those “kids” missed something.  Not just a moment of glory, but also the satisfaction of achieving something.  The satisfaction of overcoming the parts of aging that try to slow us down, of battling the attitudes that say “you’re too old,” of ignoring the aches and pains that sometimes have us saying “I don’t want to.”

On Wednesday mornings, my alarm rings at 4:45 am so that I can travel 40 minutes for my mid-week triathlon team work out.  I spent most of my junior high and high school years coming up with creative excuses about why I couldn’t do PE, but I rarely miss a triathlon workout now.  One recent day as I was sweating and really challenging myself, I looked around at my teammates.  Although there is a lot of ethnic and geographic diversity among us and we have traveled many different paths, we have much in common too.  Most of us are well educated professionals with demanding careers that require us to make a special effort to carve out time for ourselves – AND nearly all of us are over 50!  Clearly, we realize that there is something special about being together, working hard, and competing against ourselves, especially “at our age.”

Although I never really envisioned myself as being “over 50,” I have arrived here to a point of great gratitude for what my body can do and for the desire to make it do more.  Obviously, I’m not alone.  So many of us are doing more and doing it better at this age than we ever dreamed possible.

You may not want to do triathlons or endurance sports, but there is a podium somewhere for you, whether it be physical fitness or some other personal achievement that you’ve been working towards or have your eye on.  Whatever it is, now is the time to make it happen.  So, climb the podium, take a bow, bask in the glow, and plan your next challenge!!


Making the Most out of your Gym Membership

Posted on Thursday, December 29th, 2016 at 2:00 pm    

GymCongratulations!  You joined a gym. But, how do you get the most out of your gym membership?  Here are a few things to check into at your gym:

Orientation

Nearly all gyms have an orientation given by an employee who will show you the facilities. Take yours a step further by having them show you the various fitness machines and how to use them.  This will help you see how to avoid injury and add new techniques into your workout.

Introductory Packages and Pricing

Most gyms have introductory pricing and/or packages for new members. Sometimes, these include things like personal training sessions and nutrition services. Often, this pricing must be used within a certain period of time after you join the gym, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Personal Trainers

Personal Trainers can help you achieve your fitness goals sooner (and more safely). Be sure to find out about your trainer’s credentials. Do they have a college degree?  Are they certified trainers? How often do they update their training? Again, some gyms offer “training packages” for their personal trainers in order to make it more affordable. Other trainers offer small group classes with just a few people sharing the cost of the trainer’s time. There are many ways to make it affordable to use the services of a personal trainer. It is well worth your time, so check it out.

Group Fitness

Most group fitness classes are offered without an additional charge. This is a great way to try out a variety of exercises from kickboxing to spinning or yoga.

Fitness Challenges

Many gyms motivate their members by having fitness challenges which usually focus on completing a certain number of workouts in a certain period of time, traveling a certain distance on cardio machines, or losing weight. This is a fun way to shake up your routine and focus on a new goal.

Wellness Services

Many larger gyms have a variety of wellness services including massage, physical therapy, nutrition, and counseling. Sometimes, these services are less expensive than if you purchased them away from the gym and they have the added benefit of dovetailing with your fitness routine to help you achieve your goals of overall wellness.


Where To Look for Fitness Deals

Posted on Tuesday, October 18th, 2016 at 10:00 am    

Are you looking for an affordable way to stay active in the city, despite the high cost of living? It may sound like an impossible goal but there are ways to combat the high prices while still getting involved.

 

  1. GROUPONgroupon

If you’ve never used Groupon before, you’re missing out! It is a wonderful resource to find deals of all kinds from cooking classes, to tourist attractions, to even spa treatments and electronics. I regularly browse through the new postings in search of great deals. My most common purchase? Fitness classes! Yoga, kickboxing, zumba, you name it! You’re likely to find excellent prices to participate.

Keep in mind, though, that these deals are often for NEW users only, AND they may expire. The good news is that there are a lot of different fitness venues around town so you can keep trying new ones with the discounts you’ve purchased until you find one you’re happy paying full price for!

 

  1. NEW MEMBER SPECIALS

special-offerMost fitness places throughout the city offer specials for new members. Core Power Yoga, for instance, offers one week FREE for new students. Urban Yoga Spa allows current students bring a guest for FREE. Evolv Fitness of Seattle offers new students their first class for FREE. Orange Theory Fitness also offers a free workout. So there are plenty of places where even folks on a tight budget can get their foot in the door and try out a new place.

 

  1. YOUR LIVING ROOM

youtubeThere are some GREAT youtubers offering comprehensive workouts in a variety of styles. You can dance, crunch, and stretch your way healthy right in your living room for FREE. The downside? You’re in charge of motivating yourself! No instructors or other students around pushing you to excel throughout your workout. The Fitness Marshall and Blogilates are a start.

 

  1. ONLINE

meetupHave you ever heard of Meetup? It’s an online forum where you have the opportunity to choose your interests and find others in your area that are into the same things. You can discover friends that also like to run, rock climb, or row. Organizers host Meetups for you to get involved in the activities you enjoy.

  1. IN THE COMMUNITY

Believe it or not, your community wants you healthy! In the summer, the Seattle Center hosts FREE zumba and yoga classes once a week. So nice of them right? Check your local community center for free or reduced rate fitness specials.