Functional fitness
for over 50s
Move well, look well and feel well.
Learn more about how I can help you. Book a free assessment >
What's it all about?
Looking after your body and feeling great
If you are aged 50 plus, the bad news is that your body is in physical decline! The good news, however, is that you can do something about this with a style of exercise training known as Functional Exercise.
I specialize in helping people over the age of 50 to stay fit and active, focusing on all of the crucial fitness components required to do so. I work with people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.
People may have very different fitness goals or movement challenges, but I use a tried and tested Functional Fitness approach to help each person get to where they want to be.
- Is it about looking your best, but also wanting to exercise in a way that will help you to age well?
- Have you got a back, knee or hip issue that would benefit from the correct type of exercise?
- Are you fit 'for your age', but sense that your ease of movement, agility, or strength is somehow in decline?
- Is balance, co-ordination and day to day movement becoming challenging?
- Are you put off by the 'young' gym environment with loud music, mirrors and body builders?
If so, I may be able to help you.
Since I began working in the fitness industry two decades ago, I have seen some big changes. But the one thing that hasn’t really changed is the approach to offering exercise to people aged 50 and over.
Predominantly, gyms will give the over 50s an exercise programme that includes some aerobic type exercise, perhaps on a stationary bike or treadmill and some muscle strengthening or ‘toning’ type exercises on seated weights machines. What’s wrong with that, you might ask?!
Well, at first glance, nothing…Both aerobic (cardio-vascular fitness) and strength are two important components of fitness and will impact positively on health.
However, this is not the whole picture. There is a growing body of evidence which suggests there are other key components of fitness that play an important role in how well we function day to day and will, crucially, impact on how well we age.
“For someone who wants an Exercise Coach who will listen to what they have to say and work together to achieve their goals, Mike would be the ideal person. The whole process becomes a team effort with life changing results.
Caroline
What is functional exercise?
It’s about training movements, not body parts.
Put simply, Functional Exercise supports or leans towards replicating functional movement, that is, those movements we use to get average things done in our daily lives.
This could be pushing the bins out, lifting a child, carrying a heavy suit case, climbing the stairs or bending to pick a pen up from the floor.
All of these actions start from having pillar strength.
This is the foundation of all movement and consists of hip, core and shoulder stability.
Want to know more? Click here >
About me
I originally trained to be a Physical Education teacher at Bedford College of Higher Education in the 1980s. I then went on to teach at an inner city school for 5 years. It was fun, but challenging!
I’ve been helping people achieve their health and fitness goals for the past two decades, originally working as a Fitness Instructor, and then training as a Personal Fitness Trainer. I have worked one to one and with small groups of people. I have also taught Pilates and other exercise classes.
‘I trained with Mike for two years, and the changes to my functional fitness and movement were dramatic. Mike worked with me to significantly improve my range of movement and flexibility as well as my general levels of fitness. I experienced positive changes to my balance, and a reduction in aches and pains. I would wholeheartedly recommend him.’
Jeremy
