Strong at Any Age – Flagstaff Business News

It's definitely good for seniors and probably inspiring for everyone else: fitness experts say people stay in shape as they age. “It's amazing what we're seeing at the club,” said Flagstaff Athletic Club owner Holly Garretson. “A lot of our clients worked here when they were younger, and they continue to work when they're older.”

Popular Silver Sneakers classes at FAC East and Silver Fitness classes at FAC West and FAC East offer classes, primarily aimed at ages 65-plus, that focus on strength, cardio and balance training.

“We offer a wide variety of group fitness options that fit different fitness levels, abilities and goals,” said Emilia Peterson, FAC manager of fitness programs and membership. “With appropriate programming, many exercises typically associated with younger populations can also be performed safely and effectively by older adults.

Senior-oriented classes can include chairs for seated exercises that provide stability during balance training, Peterson said. These adjustments allow participants to train safely while maintaining good form and confidence. Many senior members also lift weights. The club offers personal training to ensure that exercises are performed correctly and the risk of injury is minimized.

“Strength training plays a critical role in managing osteopenia, osteoporosis and sarcopenia,” said Peterson. “We are always excited to help our clients work toward these goals. When properly supervised, exercises such as the leg press, squats, box hops and presses can significantly improve muscle strength and size, support bone density and help older adults maintain independence.

Lap swimming, swimming lessons and aquatic group fitness classes are especially beneficial for older adults, she says, because the buoyancy of the water reduces joint stress while improving cardiovascular health, flexibility and muscle endurance. “Aquatic training is particularly effective for individuals recovering from injury. It allows for resistance-based exercise without placing excessive stress on the joints.”

At The Bluffs of Flagstaff Senior Living facility on East Butler Avenue, staff are paying extra attention to problems of improper balance and the related falls that lead to an alarming rate of senior hospitalizations from hip fractures and head injuries.

Allie Correa is a lead occupational therapist with Select Rehabilitation and conducts classes at The Bluffs. “The most debilitating thing I see in seniors is the fear of falling,” Correa said. “It's good to be careful about falling, but some seniors are afraid to stand up and go to the bathroom by themselves. We try to minimize the fear of falling with balance training and tips on reducing the risk of falling in your apartment, techniques for walking safely outside and practicing how to get up from a fall.”

In fact, walking in general is one of the best ways to exercise at any age, she said. “The most important thing is to continue what you've been doing your whole life – daily activities like doing laundry and walking your dog. Many seniors at the facility walk around the building, regardless of the weather. These are the seniors who maintain their independence longer.”

With walking, no special equipment is needed. “Supportive shoes are good, but just going out and moving your body is the most important thing,” she said. “We want people to participate constantly.”

At The Bluffs, which opened three years ago, community members can use the gym and participate in group classes offered every day, alongside residents. One-on-one sessions are reserved for The Bluffs community.

“We have 121,000 square feet of living space and 205 living units in total,” said Community Outreach Director Elizabeth Vitti. “We partner with Select Rehabilitation, an outpatient clinic in our community. We can bill the insurance and community members can use our physical or occupational therapy as well. They love all the therapists here; a feeling of closeness with each of them makes a big difference.

The Bluffs has a state-of-the-art VST (Virtusense Technology) device, an automated fall risk assessment tool that provides data on balance, gait and function, the three main detectors of fall risk.

“It's a standardized assessment of speed, strength and balance,” Correa noted. “It aggregates their scores and compares them to the median for their age range.”

At Club Pilates Flagstaff, on Piccadilly Drive in Aspen Place, a variety of classes are available that offer low-impact, full-body workouts for clients of all ages, including seniors.

It is a Reformer Pilates Studio, which according to the website is “based on Joseph Pilates' original Reformer-based Contrology Methods, but modernized with group practice and expanded state-of-the-art equipment” such as “TRX, Exo-Chair, Bosu ball, mats and rollers.”

“Reformer Pilates definitely appeals to seniors as part of the demographic that comes to the studio,” said Janine Castillo, studio manager. “We offer many different types of workouts that are low impact and a form of preventive care, such as physical therapy. This makes it really attractive for senior citizens. It's a workout you can do as you get older because it's easy on the joints and it's very safe.

Castillo said that Reformer Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates, who created it from his bed-ridden cellmate's bed. They were prisoners of war in the First World War. He helped his friend gain strength and stay healthy.

They pulled on the springs and made them with handles so they could lift weights with their arms.

She said that the Flagstaff location opened in September 2024. “We have had about 320 members since we opened,” she said. “Reformer Pilates is just starting to catch on in Northern Arizona. There are Club Pilates all over the country and 20 sister studios in the Valley.”

The preventive care element at the studio addresses injuries and falls, as well as types of early-onset arthritis and weakening of the bones and joints. Classes are kept small, at 12 people.

“The instructors can check in on your form and make sure you're doing everything safely and correctly,” explained Castillo. When you come in for each class, the instructor asks you to let them know if you have any injuries they should be aware of.”

There has been “absolutely” an increase in senior memberships since the studio opened, she said. “The snowbirds that come to Flagstaff a lot of times are mostly seniors.” FBN

By Betsey Bruner, FBN

Thanks to photo: Brent Cushenbery, 66, is a competitive runner who says Reformer Pilates supplements his training. He has almost reached his 500th class with the Club Pilates Flagstaff studio.