Key facts
- Older adults are finding success and fulfillment as exercise instructors, particularly for peer groups.
- Instructors like Bengie Santos, 72, use diverse music and relatable experiences to motivate older adults.
- Students report that older instructors better understand their needs and make exercise more enjoyable.
- Experts emphasize the role of social connections and relatable role models in promoting healthy aging.
- The YMCA actively recruits older adults, including former participants, to lead senior fitness classes.
Older adults are increasingly finding fulfilling roles as exercise instructors, leveraging their life experience and shared cultural references to connect with and motivate their peers. Bengie Santos, a 72-year-old former dancer, exemplifies this trend at the YMCA of Greater Seattle, where her classes, featuring music from Doris Day to hip-hop, attract a devoted following of individuals in their 80s and 90s.
Students like Sharon Ruff, 81, and Ann Kashiwa, 91, express a preference for older instructors, feeling they better understand their needs and make exercise more enjoyable and fun. This sentiment is echoed by YMCA organizers, who recognize that for many active older adults, fitness classes provide crucial social connections and mental well-being beyond physical activity.
Experts, including evolutionary biologist Daniel E. Lieberman and personal trainer Harry King, 83, support this perspective. They highlight that relatable role models and social engagement are vital for encouraging consistent physical activity among older populations. King, who trains clients over 50, emphasizes setting a positive example through his own active lifestyle.
The YMCA actively recruits older adults, often from within their own senior fitness programs, to lead classes. Program executive Kerry Ashby notes that these instructors offer more than just fitness, contributing significantly to the mental and emotional health of participants. Tom Kleinecke, 67, a long-time Y member, contrasts the inspiring approach of instructors like Santos with the more didactic style of younger teachers, noting improvements in his own fitness and endurance.