Gyms are going gray

Jacqueline Stenson MSNBC contributor

In the fitness world, which so often seems dominated by young, hard bodies in Spandex, an unlikely group is rapidly increasing its presence: seniors.

Industry experts say people in their golden years now represent the fastest growing segment of the health club population.

Statistics from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) show that people over age 55 account for about 17 percent of gym-goers. In 2004, there were 10.2 million health club members over 55, up from 4.9 million in 1998 and 1.8 million in 1993.

"It's a huge change,"  says Brooke MacInnis Correia, a spokesperson for IHRSA, based in Boston.

She says baby boomers are one of the major driving factors. As they age, they're hoping to hang onto their health — and their looks — for as long as possible.

Janie Clark, an exercise physiologist and president of the American Senior Fitness Association in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., isn't surprised that health club clientele is becoming increasingly gray.

"We've been expecting a boom because of the demographics, because of the baby boomers getting older and the aging of the population," Clark says.

Senior-specific classes
Many fitness chains still target young people, but some of them have begun reaching out to seniors, according to Clark. Some offer senior-specific classes such as chair aerobics or low-impact dance classes. And regular water workouts, yoga and tai chi are always popular, she says.

Another way some clubs cater to seniors is by offering these classes in the late-morning hours, after the rush of the working crowd. "It's a wonderful time to utilize the facility for people who might be retired and can come that hour of the day," says Clark.

A recent survey by the IDEA Health and Fitness Association, which represents fitness managers and instructors, shows that nearly half of the group's members polled say they offer senior-specific programming, such as classes that are scheduled for seniors in non-peak hours, aimed at arthritis sufferers, modified for an aging body, or that include music that appeals to an older crowd.

Many seniors who exercise choose to do so at a YMCA or community center, Clark notes. Country clubs are another option, albeit usually a pricey one.

At the Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, Va., about a third of those working out in the facility's gym are over 60, says Jerry Hart, the director of fitness.

The oldest member is 97. "That's not that unusual anymore," Hart says.

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