Guuurl. Staying Fit at Fifty-plus has its own set of challenges, with more to address and overcome, but the rewards are worth every sweaty minute. The main things to remember ~ what worked at 35 or 40 won’t work as well over 50, so adapt and respond. And most important of all ~ you need to cherish and take care of the castle that is your beautiful body of 50, 60 or 70+ years.
We pulled some info and guidance from the web here, in our post on Fitness as You Age. We also polled some of our favorite Charlotte fitness studios for their tips and ideas on the topic.
Lucky for you “Over 50” folk, several studios put together
FREE classes and deals just for you!
Read on and be sure to sign up
for your Charlotte Fitness Over 50 workouts today!
If you are not lucky enough to be Over 50 yet, but know someone who is, please do forward this post!
Flywheel Charlotte
Denise Duffy, owner of Smartcore Fitness and legendary Charlotte cycle instructor tells us “My personal story is that I’m 57 years old and a 20 year fitness veteran – I teach 7 Flywheel classes per week, strength train over 100 people a week at SMARTCORE, and enjoy an FST (Fascial Stretch Therapy) session provided by Carolina Sports Clinic once a month.”
Our best research shows that short bursts of hard exertion or cardio work with periods of rest provides huge benefits in the shortest amount of time. Hard data on high intensity interval training like we do at Flywheel show:
- an increase in mitochondria or “energy cells” to improve athletic performance
- higher levels of VO2 max – in layman terms, the ability to use oxygen to fuel activity over a long period of time
- the ability to move FASTER – we ask for pedal speeds or RPM’s that challenge the neuromuscular system to continue to train a challenging rate of leg turnover
Flywheel Charlotte is offering scoop readers Over 50 one free class
anytime between Sunday, 10/24 and the end of November.
Just use the code FLYSCOOP15 when you book your class – our discount code goes live on 10/24.
And remember, the Fly Guys already know your birthday, so no cheating!!
Hilliard Studio Method
HSM owner & creator Liz Hilliard, 63, knows for sure that “hitting 50 does not mean take it easy. I should know, because I created my Method at age 53 just when I thought I was stuck with my post-menopausal “pooch” forever. At that point I had been a Pilates instructor for over 10 years, which had kept my body lean and strong up until then. It wasn’t until I started experimenting with heavier weights combined with low-impact, more complicated movements and cardiovascular work, that I was able to sculpt my body, lengthen my muscles and become more flexible, strong and balanced. I realized that safely working my body to its edge was the only way to continue to see results. I’ve made sure that each Hilliard Studio Method class is designed to deliver fast and effective results at any age.”
Hilliard Studio Method is offering scoop readers Over 50
a free class offered exclusively to the Over 50’s
on Friday, 11/3 at 12 noon. RSVP now to reserve your spot!
Just email HSM at here at info@hilliardstudiomethod.com
NOTE: Save 20% now on Liz’s Book, “Be Powerful: Find Your Strength at Any Age.” with the code SCOOP20 (purchase here and enter the code at checkout) ~ Bring Your book to Your Free Over 50 class to have it signed by Liz! Liz touches on menopause and perimenopause and how her body/lifestyle changed during her 60+ years in multiple areas of the book.
First Wind Cycling & Fitness
First Wind owner Karen Hill believes that making fitness a part of life in your 50s and beyond is the foundation for a good quality of life. Disease prevention is an important reason to exercise, but also, fitness has been proven to fight off depression and improve emotional well-being, balance hormones, and improve mental clarity. Her tips for getting the most from your fitness routine:
1 – Find a community: As we age, the social aspect of fitness is as important as the physical. Find a place that knows your name and notices when you’re gone. At First Wind, we love that our members make this studio their second home and family comprised of all ages and fitness levels and our members benefit greatly from the relationships they’ve formed here.
2 – Warm up: Your age does not prevent you from doing anything that you could do before you were 50 except heal as quickly. Make sure that you warm up properly at the start of every session. Try lower impact warm-ups for less stress on the joints. We start a lot of our fusion classes on the bike because it’s a safe way to elevate core temperature. Once you’ve warmed up properly, you’re less likely to injure yourself. Remember that an injury can set you back longer than it used to and you don’t want to go weeks without being able to exercise.
3 – Strength train: Without strength training, you start losing muscle at age 25. Not only does muscle support a good metabolism and a good libido, but it supports your joints. Without strength training, we start to avoid activities that keep us healthy and happy. For instance, you might not get on the floor to play with your kids or grandkids if it’s too hard to get back up. Make sure you’re incorporating strength training in your routine so you can keep doing the things you want to do.
First Wind is offering scoop readers Over 50 a free 45 minute transformation session
including a fitness & nutrition assessment to help you set goals, understand barriers,
and find a fitness program that works for you.
Email karen@firstwindcycling.com to book yours today.
AIR® Aerial Fitness
There’s something for everyone at AIR®, including a very basic intro level course Wednesday’s at 10:45am for clients brand new and/or over 50.
This class is offered every week, and is only $5.
Look for it on the SouthPark schedule titled “Introduction to Aerial Yoga”.
AIR® client Nancy Williams tells us that “After retiring from Duke Energy about four years ago I began working out almost daily. I discovered aerial fitness over five years ago at (now) AIR CHARLOTTE, which has made a huge difference in my core and upper body strength. I also strive to live the message of the book, Younger Next Year for Women: exercise, eat healthy foods, and maintain an emotional commitment to family and friends. It’s a roadmap to living strong, fit and sexy until you’re 80 and beyond. Join me…”
Vibe5 Fitness
Suzanne Bergen – Yoga Teacher at VIBE5 tells us “I had to increase my cardio over 50 to get my heart rate up and not carry extra weight. The sport of stair climbing came into my life. Two/three times a week I will train climbing stairs for and hour. The building is fifty stories. Weight training is very important over 50 so I will work with weights three times a week. Five times a week I will practice yoga. Eating a well balanced diet. Lots of protein, salads, and vegetables. Sleeping seven to eight hours per night. Working with a naturopath for optimal health has been a game changer for me personally. Playing, having fun, and rest are essential.”
The Bar Method
Autumn Frk at The Bar Method loves the Over 50 crowd, telling us “almost half of our clientele is in this age bracket… seriously!”
“Bar Method is extremely focused on joint and alignment safety for all bodies; no matter their gender, age, body type, and beyond. Very few Bar Method modifications (if any) are necessary for women over 50. Women of any age should never feel like they “can’t keep up” or “need to modify everything” when searching for an exercise routine. In fact, at Bar Method, women over 50 feel empowered because they can do exactly what everyone else in the class is doing. Being over 50 doesn’t mean that fitness choices become limited. It’s a time when fitness opportunities usually open up! Women of this beautiful age begin to have the time to focus on themselves and they understand more deeply the value of taking time for self improvement. That is empowering!“
The Bar Method is offering a free One hour Beginner class for all clients Over 50
on Friday, October 27th at 11:00am.
Sign up Here at this link.
Bar Method client Peggy says “I find it hard to believe its been almost two years, and over 250 classes since I’ve embarked on the best fitness journey of my life! I feel empowered, stronger, and more flexible since I began taking classes. An equally rewarding aspect of my membership has been the influence of the wonderful caring staff. The comraderie, friendship, and encouragement I’ve experienced with my fellow students has been incomparable and priceless. Bar Method has made me one very happy almost 67 year “young” lady!”
Orange Theory Fitness
The Orangetheory method, which combines cardio with strength training in every class, ensures you get the metabolic boost your Over 50 system needs to keep the weight off and the strength up. Here’s what several very pleased OTF clients over 50 have to say about their work there.
Ed:
“If your fitness goal is to maintain, regain or achieve the best physical shape of your life, Orange Theory Fitness offers you, at any age, a fun, challenging path to success. I’ve just completed my first year. Results have been apparent in all aspects of my life. Besides changing fat to muscle, I have improved medically, in my outlook, and in handling stress. The most frequently heard line when exiting the studio all sweaty and worn out: “Best hour of the day”.”
Linda:
“I have found that I am more competitive with myself than I ever knew. I know that I am stronger, healthier, and more physically active than I have ever been in my life. A couple of other personal likes about Orange Theory is that I have lost some weight, toned up, and met great people in my classes. Not only are the coaches encouraging, all the members are too. And my “Personal Best” is that I can keep up with members that are much younger than me!”
Eric: OTF works for me after 50, because it improves the quality of my life. I can look in the mirror at home and see the change. When I come to workout its like being on a team; we all push each other to get to the finish line. I just the love the energy of the room!
Shay: OTF over 50 works for me bacause it makes feel Alive…vital! It motivates me to push my limits and conquer my fears with fitness. It has definitely changed my life.
Orangetheory Quail Corners is holding a FREE class for Over 50 scoop fans on Monday, November 6 at 11:30 am.
Join Coach Mary Queen to burn down the House with your Over 50 friends.
Space is Limited so Email studiomanager0141@
If this is your first time taking an OTF class, please plan to arrive 30min prior to the class time.
The Scoop on Turning 50 is Brought to You by Charlotte Radiology Breast Centers
Charlotte Radiology is one of the nation’s largest radiology practices and has been serving the greater Charlotte area for nearly 50 years. The professionals at Charlotte Radiology believe the key to beating and detecting breast cancer early is quality mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing annually in to your 50s and beyond.
The two biggest risk factors for getting breast cancer are being a woman and getting older. In fact, the cancer incidence rate increases with age, making annual mammography even more important to women ages 50+. Of the breast cancers detected using mammography, over 28 percent were found in women between ages 40-49.
The bottom line is that early detection is the key to beating breast cancer. Annual screening results in lower call-back rates than does biennial screening and finds cancer at the earliest stage – providing a more favorable prognosis.
