Over 40

Although I work with people of any age and ability, I have a special interest and understanding of people over the age of 40. Mid-life+ men and women tend to value the benefits of moderation and balance in their lives, and are eager to tap into my years of experience and training to begin or maintain a fit lifestyle.

Many people over 40 become “Weekend Warriors,” playing strenuous sports or other activities on the weekends, only to spend Monday through Friday recovering. Often a client will have the same expectations for their 55-year-old body that they had for their 21-year-old body when they played on their college basketball team or won swimming championships. I tell them that middle-aged bodies can still do great things. A quick look through the gallery of photos at the Masters Track and Field website (http://www.masterstrack.com/gallery/main.php) proves my point. Those are some inspiring people: vital, fit, and still competing over age 40. But the approach for older bodies has to be different. The trick is not to fight against your age, but to work with it. It’s important to pay close attention to what your body is telling you; to not tough your way through pain. Technique and progression is important at any age, but especially after 40.

Also, we’ve learned a lot about exercise and the human body over the past 20 years and things have changed. Do you remember the old way of doing sit-ups: someone holding down your feet while you wrench your lower back on the way up and slam the floor as you go back down? There are new and better ways to do exercise these days, and technique is even more important when making a wrong move can put you out of commission for weeks of physical therapy.

You can be as fit or even more fit than you were at 25, but your approach must be modified. Warm-ups, flexibility, balance, proper technique, and adequate cool-downs are important components of the well-rounded exercise program I will design for your body and your goals.