Local Gyms Provide Varied Options for Senior Workouts

The Centre County Gazette has looked into several ways of staying fit — including swimming, yoga and exercise programs — in its Senior Living pages.

Searching for new ideas in fitness for seniors, I explored some of the newer gyms and fitness clubs.

The goal — to see if seniors could master the workouts featured at each and to find out wheter the clubs welcomed seniors.

Kinetik Fitness, located at 2301 Commercial Blvd. in State College, was founded by Scott Ludwig. Scott’s wife, Chanel Ludwig, is co-owner and runs the facility. Open for seven years and having won “Best Health Club” five times, Kinetik has a good handle on what is needed to keep clients challenged and interested.

“You can train here five days a week for six months and never repeat the exact same workout,” says Chanel Ludwig.

Certified and trained coaches offer coed group coaching six times a day for 50 minutes, which includes a five to seven minute warm-up and a three to four minute cool-down. The workout is part cardio and part strength training. One 30-minute express class is given at 12:15 p.m. for those on a lunchtime workout schedule, but does not include warm-up or cool-down. The participants are encouraged to do so on their own.

According to its website, Kinetik Fitness programs are designed to burn fat and tone muscle as quickly and safely as possible. All fitness levels are catered to. Asking it you are fit enough for working out in a gym is not the question one should ask, but rather, “How do I get help in moving more easily and safely?” Kinetik has members ranging in age from their 20s up to one member who is in his 80s.

Kinetik also has an off-site program that it manages at English Meadows, a home many seniors live at that’s located at 3291 Shellers Bend, State College.

The sister facility to Kinetik is the new Thrive facility that opened in June 2014 at 2290 E. College Ave., State College. It has more of a traditional gym feel and smaller group size. Your goals may involve hitting a golf ball farther, gaining a stronger back or working on getting healthy knees. If these are more your issues, you may find what you need at Thrive.

Thrive’s adult functional training is done with a trainer and four or five in a group. Clients are screened in seven different movements to see where their issues may be with decreased movement or function. Then, the trainer can set up an individualized program for each person. You can be doing your routine of exercises next to someone who is working on his or her own agenda. The beauty of this approach is that the trainer is right there to assist if needed.

Maintaining strength, flexibility and remaining injury-free as you age are desired outcomes. At Thrive, according to Scott Ludwig, “Let’s see how you move and as you become more able to move, other problems may clear as well. We want to see you moving better and then you can start to burn more calories, if that is your goal.”

Thrive also offers sports performance training for middle and high school students.

Clint and Jenn Frazier own Anytime Fitness, which opened on Dec. 16 at 2351 Commercial Blvd., State College. Jenn Frazier says they take “Silver Sneakers” memberships, which many insurance plans offer.

“On your first visit, a trainer works with you for a free hour to check your flexibility and fitness level,” she says. “It’s about the members with us. We interact with them and we cater to their needs. We adapt programs to fit their needs. You can work out on your time, 24 hours a day and access the gym with your own security-access key.”

At Anytime Fitness, you work out with a small number of people who are doing their own planned programs. There are no class teachers at present. There are many types of workouts available on “Wellbeats,” a virtual workout site, included with memberships. Members can participate in boot camps, kickboxing, dance and yoga. Users have said that the filming is well done and engaging, so that you almost feel like the instructor is in the room.

“The advantages to our facility are the 24-hour availability, the exceptional equipment and the personal interest we offer our members,” says Jenn Frazier.