Fifty Plus (50+) - I Failed Geezer Exercise Class

I Failed Geezer Exercise Class

Our local recreation department participates in the "Silver Sneakers" old folks exercise program (which is supported by 3 different Medicare insurance companies, if you are a member), or it is self pay (my situation, as I have different insurance).

So, the wife, wanting us to "Do something together" talks me into going to this course.

OK, there are about 30 folks in there, doing stuff that is really easy for me, but, evidently, challenging for these folks. The wife is doing some stuff, which can't be harmful.

The first time, I pick up some 10 pound dumbbell weights, along with the most stiff elastic band they have. As we line up in several rows in our military order, the instructor, noticing we are new, comes over and makes a big deal of my having the 10 pound weights, embarrassing me in front of others (who mostly have 5 or 2 pound weights). I use 15 or 20 pound weights at home.

We made it through about 3 sessions. But, all along, there is a 2nd instructor in the back of the room, who is assigned, I guess, to "monitor" folks, and she is always giving me the eagle eye, to make sure I don't make any mistakes, I guess, as if that is some big deal if I make a mistake.

The instructor tells us to rearrange our chairs for more room. I push my chair (now with 2 - 12 pound weights sitting in the seat) to where she wants it (or at least I try). The eagle eye instructor sees her chance, and comes running up to correct me because I am PUSHING, not lifting my chair (everyone else is pushing, also). So she tried to lift the chair, but can't because of the 2 12 pound weights. She ends up pushing it also.

OK, I survived that, but I wasn't real happy.

So, the instructor continues with the exercises, all the time talking about, "This exercise will assist you with your "ADL's" - Activities of Daily Living," and how important it is for us to "cross our midlines" when we do our arm and leg exercises. Now, most of these folks are in their 60's, and really do their ADL's very well, and it is REALLY starting to irritate me.

We then do a sort of standing bench press kind of exercise using the exercise band as resistance, wrapped around your back. Well, eagle eye in the back notices that I don't have the band perfectly placed (in her estimation) around my back, and rushes over to tell me how to do it correctly, and even starts to shift the band with her hands.

I look at her and state, very pleasantly, "Please don't correct me." Twice.

She finally moves away, but my temper is heading towards the ceiling, and I know I have to get out of there, or I am going to say something or do something I will regret later. So, I pack up my chair, my 12 pound weights, my resistance band, and my little ball that they have me rolling around my legs, and leave in the middle of class.

She stops me on the way out, and says, "I was only trying to help you." I look at her and state, "I come to this class for fun, not to be instructed." Twice. And then I leave.

Anyway, it turns out the wife was having the same feelings, and we are not going back.

What really gets me is that some of the folks, in their 60's, act like children in the class. They argue over their "spot" on the gym floor, as if it has their name on it, and one lady gave my wife a really rough time because that lady had determined that my wife did not leave her enough space.

Note to Jeff Foxworthy: I am 67 YO, and I Failed Geezer Exercise Class!

Oh, by the way, here is my home gym. I wonder if Eagle Eye would approve or allow me to use it?:D :

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/wtroom1.jpg

Maybe someone is jealous because there are geezers still in good shape...
my almost 91 year old mom just bought a new car for her 90th birthday and still rides the four-wheeler, not very fast mind you, but she is a go getter.
peace

Hate to say it- But you excelled in the Geezer test. I am surprised you lasted that long. Shows that you still have your own mind (Aswell as your fitness) and can use it.

So Go back and show them how it should be done.

I wouldn't as I doubt you would get me through the door.

Sounds like the instructor is used to keeping everyone in line, as well as helping them get some exercise. The program sounds more geared to those who don't exercise regularly and need some help getting started-a category you certainly don't fall into. She's probably more used to making sure nobody becomes injured, just as much as helping them get some exercise. Do they offer a more "advanced" class, where the instruction might be better suited to your level of fitness, and not just making sure that people move their muscles to prevent atrophy? I'd say the class failed you, rather than you failing the class!

OK, I'll be the one to say it. What did you expect from a female dominated exercise class?

OK, I'll be the one to say it. What did you expect from a female dominated exercise class?

:roflmao:

She was doing exactly what she was trained to do.

You were doing what you should do.

The two things are simply not compatible, you don't belong in that class anymore than you belong in a kindergarten class.

Count your blessings, I know I do.

Nice home gym. I use to have all that stuff - sold it about 5 years ago.
Could luck finding a class your wife likes and you can tolerate.

You should know there is a mother hen anywhere you go. I probably wouldn't have lasted as long as you did.

Any thing that doesn't kill you can at least make a really good story later.

When it came time to sign up for a class I just went to a local sports store and signed up for their indoor compu-trainer class. What I didn't figure on was that I'd be the only person over 30, never mind 50. The instructor didn't treat me any different than anybody else except the time I stopped in the middle of an intense session and he thought I was having heart trouble. It was actually a leg cramp from doing the high RPM. Heart rate was just fine.

It was all female too. 20-30 years old. Now THAT will give me a heart attack.

Leave the geezer class to the geezers.

Hang in there, DF! You should be teaching the class.

The origins of the phrase "Grumpy Old Men".

You have to be nice to these kids Dnvr. They are going to be paying our SS well into our 90's........:)

Any thing that doesn't kill you can at least make a really good story later.

Well said.:)

The origins of the phrase "Grumpy Old Men".

You have to be nice to these kids Dnvr. They are going to be paying our SS well into our 90's........:)

On that note - my daughter is studying to be a nurse. My crude thoughtless comment to her was, "Great, I got to change your diapers, one day you will be changing mine" :roflmao:

Fortunately she knows my sick sense of humor.

This story reminds me of a fitness center advertisement, paraphrased as:
"Are you tired of going to a gym where the only dumbbell is the instructor?"

I suspect that every pedal stroke on the road, bench press in the garage, or sit-up we do, not to mention critical thought in our head and passion in our hearts.......all help to keep "us" out of the hands of those mother-hen nannies whose intentions are good but can also send us back to an undignified childhood.

Getting back to the bike after all these years makes me want to shout, "Drive on".

I remember seeing a news story about obesity and efforts to get obese people to be more physically active. They showed pictures of these large folks standing and moving their arms around, one at a time, walking in place, that kind of stuff. I figured there was no way that counted as exercise, but I suppose it's all relative. You landed in an inappropriate class, that's all. It might have been just right for some of those other folks.

I remember seeing a news story about obesity and efforts to get obese people to be more physically active. They showed pictures of these large folks standing and moving their arms around, one at a time, walking in place, that kind of stuff. I figured there was no way that counted as exercise, but I suppose it's all relative. You landed in an inappropriate class, that's all. It might have been just right for some of those other folks.

IMHO, it is never appropriate to treat older adults condescendingly as children! But, you are right - that is not the class for me.

My 2cents, unless you correctly percieve yourself as belonging to a group, a group activity will be wrong for you. And I'm betting you were 2 minutes into the just looking around at the geezers when you truly knew you didn't belong. One of the things I've noticed about this bunch of old farts (US) is that we are all young at heart (in more ways then one) and that activities "appropriete for our age" don't fit. Every day you are out exercising, out cycling, and out living at least 2/3 's of the people half your age! Why should you be surprised that people your actual age aren't in your league? You'll just have to face the fact that you rock! And don't blame the instructors, after all they just mistakenly thought you were old!

And don't blame the instructors, after all they just mistakenly thought you were old!

That's balogna! How competant does one have to be to just look at somebody and gauge if they are fit enough to handle a 10 pound weight? I blame the instructors.

That's balogna! How competant does one have to be to just look at somebody and gauge if they are fit enough to handle a 10 pound weight? I blame the instructors.

I think you're right, but my recollection of the "Fitness" majors at the University I attended was that as a group they weren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

If I ended up in an "elective" class with a bunch of "Phys. Ed" majors I knew I had an easy "A" for the semester and all the attention I wanted from the class instructor out of sheer gratitude for having someone in the class that could not only form complete thoughts in their mind, but express them in english either in writing or verbally.

I remember one Music class where about half of the [major sport] team of the [major sport university] was lined up along the back two rows of seats on the first day of class. These folks were having trouble getting the questions on the "attendance roll pop-quiz" answered correctly. (Maybe they didn't have their Tutors lined up yet)

A whole bunch of these folks went on to work in the fitness business and probably trained the trainers in the class...


:rolleyes:

[B][COLOR="Blue"]I Failed Geezer Exercise Class

Our local recreation department participates in the "Silver Sneakers" old folks exercise program (which is supported by 3 different Medicare insurance companies, if you are a member), or it is self pay (my situation, as I have different insurance).


Well, it sounds like that was a class for people who do need instruction. Nothing wrong with that. The teacher couldn't know what condition you were in and was used to working with people who were completely out of condition. I see nothing wrong with what she did. But it's obvious that the class was wrong for you.

From having seen my mom (80 yo) in such classes lately, I think this class was targeted at folks much less capable than you, in every way. You didn't fail it, the Senior Center failed you by not providing information that would enable you to see what it really is for. Sorry you had an aggravating experience.

Road Fan

From having seen my mom (80 yo) in such classes lately, I think this class was targeted at folks much less capable than you, in every way. You didn't fail it, the Senior Center failed you by not providing information that would enable you to see what it really is for. Sorry you had an aggravating experience.

Road Fan

I was there because my wife wanted me there, and she can benefit from the activities in the class, or similar activities. The exercises were not bad, they were good. It was the attitude that grated me. I would have gone back willingly, except she had the same exact feelings I did about being treated as a child, etc., and SHE did not want to go back. If "Eagle Eyes" had left me alone, I would have been happy if my wife was happy.

The exercises/activities were in no way bad for me, and I figured one hour of a sort-of cardio activity certainly could do me no harm.

My wife and my levels of activity and fitness are pretty different. If we do a class together (or bike ride together, or walk together), then it will always be a compromise on my part, which I am perfectly willing to do.

A couple of years ago, we jointly went to a Yoga class. The first time was great. The 2nd time, the instructor took it on herself to "correct" us - we weren't doing the Yoga perfectly. However, we weren't there to do Yoga perfectly, we just wanted a bit of exercise and stretching. It seems the fitness instructors we seem to come across are highly worried that everything must be done perfectly, which we don't care about one bit. I guess we need a more relaxed class leader who sees the "BIG PICTURE," which is - we are there getting some exercise and doing a bit of stretching and whatever, and mostly to relax and enjoy ourselves.

Denver:
Remember those kids back in grade school who always said "I'm telling"? They grew up to be "spotters" in the old folks exercise programs. Also found in many neighborhood associations and city planning departments. :) Don

Not from any kind of merit, just from being trusted, I'm running a training department. I look after the permanent training staff, and hire external trainers in all kinds of disciplines - mechanical, operational, managerial, financial, IT, auditors and safety experts - all good people, and many of them are subject experts

But it's a rare delight to find someone who tries to ask how they can help, rather than assuming that they are there to impart superior knowledge

Those who do have a service orientation and who try to find out the strengths of their subject groups, are warmly appreciated and get re-hired

The training profession unfortunately (with many praiseworthy exceptions) attracts insecure show-offs

Not from any kind of merit, just from being trusted, I'm running a training department. I look after the permanent training staff, and hire external trainers in all kinds of disciplines - mechanical, operational, managerial, financial, IT, auditors and safety experts - all good people, and many of them are subject experts

But it's a rare delight to find someone who tries to ask how they can help, rather than assuming that they are there to impart superior knowledge

Those who do have a service orientation and who try to find out the strengths of their subject groups, are warmly appreciated and get re-hired

The training profession unfortunately (with many praiseworthy exceptions) attracts insecure show-offs

Training is easy. All that you have to do is to guide your learners from where they are now to where they need to go. The hard part is figuring out where they are now. I think that's why it gets skipped so often.

/\ agree completely

Have you ever considered taking anger management classes? Or do you just really enjoy being a grouchy old oh, whatever?:D

Have you ever considered taking anger management classes? Or do you just really enjoy being a grouchy old oh, whatever?:D

"Grumpy Old Men" - a great movie!

Too bad the experience was a negative one. I've two thoughts to add...don't know if they are any values but:

1. Sometimes people who work in the field of gerontology work primarily with folks who are struggling to accomplish things you take for granted. I've observed that a frequent side effect of this is that they being to see all older people as less capable. Yet those with a need for assistance in ADLs are in the minority. I observed this with folks who work with troubled teens too. Sometimes they being to see all teens in the same manner.

2. I've been to exercise classes for younger folks and see "instructors" treat people the same way. This may not have been ageism as much as simply being with folks who tend to treat everyone this way.

BTW, I'm envious of your workout equipment and room.

Denvr, you got a perfectly good thread out of that experience - surely it was worth it solely for that :D

Richard

I had a long talk with the supervisor yesterday.

The program and activities are mandated by the "Silver Sneakers" organization, NOT by the Rec Center. The instructor and program evaluation is done by the Silver Sneakers organization, not by the rec center. She agreed with at least a part of what I was feeling and said.

The SS folks even have a limit on the amount of weight one can use in a barbell.

She said the program is aimed mainly at folks who have been not very mobile nor active, and that they have had a couple of folks go from using a walker to actually walking in - actually quite a success.

She stated, that after viewing my home exercise room, I was not a likely candidate for this course. However, my wife could benefit, which leaves me back at the same conundrum!

She suggested a couple of other courses. We will look into them.