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5 Benefits of Working With a Personal Trainer

As we age, maintaining our health and well-being is essential. Good physical health is one of the eight dimensions of wellness that is key to an improved quality of life – especially for older adults. Exercising regularly has countless benefits, including easing joint pain and improving strength, flexibility and balance, all which make daily activities much easier.

Working with a personal trainer is one of the best and safest ways for seniors to make sure they’re getting enough exercise and meeting their fitness goals.

Why Hire a Personal Trainer for Seniors?

There are gyms and fitness centers available on nearly every corner, so why consider working with a personal trainer? The most important reason is accountability. Many people want to improve their fitness level but have trouble committing to their goal. A personal trainer can help keep you on track and motivated to keep going when you want to give up.

Here are three additional benefits to working with a personal trainer:

1. Personal attention. Your trainer works with you one-on-one, offering you a customized fitness plan for older adults that accounts for your capabilities, preferences and needs. Instead of a cookie cutter approach often seen in exercise classes, your trainer can recommend certain stretches and exercises that are perfect for you. As you make progress, your trainer can add new exercises, suggest modifications, or increase the intensity.
2. Age-appropriate exercises. Senior fitness trainers have an extensive knowledge of the unique challenges we face with coordination and balance as we get older. A workout that a 25-year-old loves to do is likely inappropriate for someone in their golden years. And, an older adult probably doesn’t have “killer abs” as a fitness goal. Instead, a senior fitness trainer can recommend a fitness plan that improves flexibility, balance and core strength.
3. Safety. Injury is a major concern with seniors, and going to the gym can pose a risk if you go alone. Performing exercises improperly can lead to a fall, and using equipment incorrectly can also lead to injury. A personal trainer would be standing right next to you to make sure you have proper form and teach you how to use equipment. Additionally, trainers who specialize in working with seniors have professional knowledge of exercises to accommodate limited mobility and balance to prevent injuries.

How Life Plan Communities Improve Your Physical Wellness

According to a recent study by the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, residents of Life Plan Communities have better physical wellness compared to older adults in the community at large. For example, residents tend to exercise more often. On average, Life Plan Community participants engage in vigorous physical activity one to three times a month, and moderate and mild physical activity once or a few times a week. One likely contributor to residents’ physical wellness is the presence of fitness centers and wellness services typically available in Life Plan Communities.

At Peabody Retirement Community, our senior personal training program offers the one-on-one personal attention you need to reach your individual goals. And, membership to our state-of-the-art Billie Jane Strauss Wellness Center isn’t just limited to our residents! For more information about becoming a member of our senior wellness center, or our available personal training packages, please contact us today at (260) 982-8616.