Mike Waters

Mike is Director  of Health promotion at Timber Hill Athletic Club for the last 12 years.   

He has a graduate degree in exercise physiology – adult fitness  ( heart disease prevention)   and he works on “healthy aging” in club members, and the community.

His primary experience is in worksite health promotion program management and development         

Discussion

 What does it mean to be old? What’s your age cut-off for elderly?

• The fitness industry must adapt to a huge population of boomers who’s physical and psycho-social needs are different than younger populations.  
• What do you mean by psycho-social needs?
• Don’t people get to an age where, let’s face it, it’s too late for exercise to have any benefit? Isn’t it more of a hazardous activity at some point in life?
• Boomers want functional fitness to be able to do things, play with grandkids.  How does “functional fitness” differ from other kinds of fitness? 
• Elders want to be functional in the final stage – years of their lives. How should a fitness program evolve from say, age 60, over the next 20-30 years?
• What about living in the city---talk about hiking and biking opportunities…
• What about skiing? I belong to a “70 Plus” ski club that has members in their 90’s.  Do you think that’s a good thing?
• What about dancing? Do you think this is something we should be doing more of?
• Do you agree with CDC recommends two kinds of exercises for seniors:

1. aerobic: 30 minutes, 5 times/week

                        2, muscle/strengthening:  2 or more times/week…all major muscle groups

                        They say that only c. 1/3rdof US pop. over age 65 gets this level of exercise….

• What is it about muscle building that is important for older folks? We’re not trying to show off our physique over spring break.   What’s the deal with strength training?
• What about stretching/flexibility---how important is yoga and other stretching vs aerobic/muscular?
• Do you think it’s true that “sitting is the new smoking?”
• Are you familiar with Tai Chi? Do you think it’s something older folks should be doing?
• Isn’t there a danger in over-exercising? How does a person recognize their limits---know how far to go? 
• What do you think of the digital watch fitness programs that track body metrics and steps?
• Aside from health clubs and fitness centers, do you think
• Is there a need for group exercise activities for elders in say public squares? Should the City of Portland be organizing group exercises for elders in public parks?

 

Lauren Hunter, City Parks & Rec

 

• Five year round centers: “the big five.”              
  • EP
  • Scott
  • MATT
  • South west
  • Charles Johnson
• Plus other, smaller community centers
• Classes: water classes, pastels, writing, performance art, memoirs, geneology
• of users: send out 8,000 guides
• Hiking program: three levels
  • Motion movers (2 hours)
  • Hikes for health (6 hours(
  • Wilderness (very fit)
• Budget? Fees: c. $50,000/year
• Volunteers: had a dinner for 209 (70 core members)
  • Intensive training
• Most popular programs
  • Van excursions (160 per year)
  • Hiking program