Fitness goals change over time. Where speed and strength may once have been the focus, staving off osteoporosis/osteopenia, maintaining muscle mass and avoiding falls become priorities as we age.
But also, for older adults, social connections take on greater import, as isolation increases depression and decreases quality of life.
Organized or planned activities involving others can assist with all of the above—the physical, mental and social elements of a thriving life—according to Gallup research. Fortunately, in the Patagonia-Sonoita area there are plenty of opportunities for all three (here’s a list). Personal training, yoga, tai chi, bocce in the park, kayaking: take your pick.
Rick T. Jaynes, a Patagonia personal trainer, owns and operates Simplify Fitness at the Duquesne House along with wife Bekki. Many of their clients—the majority being 60-70 in age—are interested in “functional fitness,” training that supports activities of daily living. Unlike other forms of exercise that look to ready athletes for competition, functional fitness strengthens muscles and improves balance, allowing individuals to move easier and safer.
Take, for example, the saddling of a horse. One client told Rick that task comes easier now. That’s functional fitness.
Additionally, one-on-one sessions provide opportunities for relationship building—either between client and trainer or group participants. The Simplify Fitness studio can accommodate up to three students.
Nancy Coyne, a retired psychiatrist, agrees that socialization is a subtle but important component of organized or planned activities. She teaches a group yoga class at Thurber Hall, sessions set to start up again in the fall. While the movements are instrumental in promoting balance and flexibility, the group setting has a positive impact on the ventral vagal system, a part of the nervous system that regulates our ability to connect.
“That connection with other people and their energy fields, as well as the physical, spiritual and emotional components of yoga, is part of self-healing,” she said.
Donna Riley Brollier, who teaches yoga in Patagonia and Sonoita, brings that connection to her classes, using words of wisdom or poetry.
“I encourage my students to be accepting and loving towards oneself and extend that to others,” Brollier said. Laughter is part of the practice. And each week students get a link to the most recent class along with words of encouragement—a reminder that assists in sustaining the spirit of the class long after the mats have been rolled up.
For activities taking place outdoors, there is another benefit to consider—Vitamin D. The body needs Vitamin D for building and maintaining healthy bones. The body can only absorb calcium—the primary component of bone—when Vitamin D is present. Vitamin D is also important as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and supports immune health and brain function.
And speaking of outdoor opportunities, David Fain of Patagonia is looking to bring pickleball to the area. The venue for this activity will be the Patagonia High School tennis courts. He is also hoping to find a venue for table tennis.
If you offer an area exercise opportunity, please contact Carrie White at CarrieWhitePRT@gmail.com as this information will be update periodically and made available on the PRT website.