January 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 67

Branded Group Exercise Classes
Branded classes (think Jazzercise;
BodyPump, Zumba) have been around
for many years and are offered by many
recreation departments. However, in
recent years, there has been a significant
increase in both the number and variety
of classes available. These classes often
develop legions of fans, and as a result,
the companies develop multiple spinoffs.
Traditionally, many of these branded
classes did not include programming
designed for older adults, but there is
evidence that this is changing.
For example, Zumba has been wildly
popular among a variety of populations
and is offered far and wide. One of Zumba's latest offerings, Zumba Gold, was
designed to be a low-intensity workout, specifically for older adults. And,
the research suggests that Zumba Gold
is effective. The American Council on
Exercise (ACE) conducted a small independent research study to determine
whether Zumba Gold meets current
guidelines for improving and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness. This study
found that participation did fulfill the exercise intensity guidelines. Perhaps most
importantly, the participants in the study
enjoyed the experience of Zumba Gold,
which suggests that they are likely to
continue attending classes.
Given this information, Zumba Gold
might be an ideal exercise program to
add to your menu for middle-aged and
older adults. You can read more about
the study at https://www.acefitness.
org/certifiednews/images/article/pdfs/
ACE_Zumba_Study.pdf).
Hire Well-Qualified
Exercise Professionals
One of the key elements to offering
safe and effective fitness programming
for older adults is to make sure you
hire individuals who have the proper
expertise. The " gold standard " in

fitness credentialing is the National
Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA). One of the qualities you
should be looking for when hiring group
exercise instructors is a certification
that is accredited by the NCCA. When
offering branded programming, you will
also need to ensure that your instructors
have the proper credentials to offer that
particular brand.

indoor recreation facilities might well
accommodate group exercise classes,
depending on the flooring and space -
the fitness area should be appropriate and
safe for whatever class you are offering.
If you don't have appropriate space
at your facilities, consider partnering
with other organizations around town
to offer classes. Is there a corporate
campus in town that might have a gym

This younger mindset of older adults is requiring
recreation and park departments to get creative with
their fitness programming.

In addition to basic group fitness certifications, you may also want to look
for additional training that specializes
in working with older adults. Several
well-respected organizations certifying
exercise professionals offer these under
different names. ACE offers a Senior Fitness Specialist program that educates fitness professionals about the unique challenges of working with older adults, and
teaches modifications and progressions
for guiding them through fitness routines
that will help them prevent muscle deterioration, improve balance and bone
strength, and boost quality of life.
Choose the Setting with Care
One of the best parts about group
exercise classes is that you have a lot of
flexibility around where to offer them.
Don't fret if you don't have a gym!
If you are in a mild climate, consider
outside on grass. You would want to
ensure that the area is flat and relatively
free of obstacles, such as tree limbs,
rocks, etc. Community centers or other

or classroom and be willing to allow
you to run some community classes
during non-peak times as part of its
corporate social responsibility efforts?
Are there faith-based facilities that
might be interested in partnering with
your department and offering some
programming at their facility? One
word of caution: don't be tempted to
only offer " older adult programming "
at the senior center. With the determined, youthful mindset of today's
older Americans, " fitness for old people " may experience less than ideal registration numbers. You may find that a
slate of classes full of older adults will
require a variety of programming for
sustaining vibrant lifestyles well into
the golden years.
Sheila Franklin is the Director of Government
Relations for the American Council on Exercise
and a former Park and Recreation Professional,
having worked for both the Wheaton Park
District in Wheaton, Illinois, and the Maryland
Recreation and Parks Association (sheila.
franklin@acefitness.org).

W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 8 |

Parks & Recreation

January 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2018 - Parks & Recreation