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From Health Club Management 2023 issue 4

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Around 43 per cent of people in Spain report general pain Photo: Empowered Brands

Offering free fitness for over 70s

Diseases such as osteoarthritis, arthritis and rheumatism are very common among the elderly in Spain where the presence of general pain in people older than 75 years is reported by 43 per cent of the population. It’s also estimated that approximately 40 per cent of European spending on medical care is channelled to the elderly.

In addition, more than one in two older people in Spain lives with joint disease.

To address this challenge, Énergie Fitness Iberia has created a free strength training programme to improve the quality of life of adults over 70 years-of-age.

We love our young members, but we didn’t have any people over 70 in our gyms and as the benefits for seniors are so enormous, we decided to create Silver Warriors strength training.

The programme seeks to demonstrate that fitness and physical activity are for all people, regardless of age, level or physical condition, as the fitness industry has for a long time been primarily focused on people between the ages of 18 and 35 who want to stay in shape.

Strength training is much more important than cardio for people over 70 because it maintains muscle and joints and helps them stay independent, healthy, and strong. It helps retain balance, resulting in fewer falls and hip fractures and helps relieve pain from stiff joints and arthritis.

At the start of Silver Warriors, the Énergie Fitness team carry out a strength test of main muscle groups, including quadriceps, glutes and lower back. This enables an exercise programme to be personalised for each person’s physical abilities.

Photo: energie Fitness

"Silver Warriors is seeking to demonstrate that physical activity is for all ages" – Rod Hill, president, Énergie Fitness Iberia

Opening up the great outdoors for exercise

Haroon Mota, founder, Muslim Hikers

Haroon Mota / Photo: Muslim Hikers

The Muslim Hikers have teamed up with Adidas, Wiggle and OUTO to tackle the lack of inclusivity in physical activity in the great outdoors.

The initiative was founded after Muslim Hikers received racist online abuse following a hike in the UK and after appearing on the Countryfile TV programme in September 2022, when our group was accused of not being ‘proper walkers’.

The three brands have worked closely with us to identify the barriers that need to be broken down to make the countryside feel like a place Muslims can enjoy.

Muslims pray to Mecca five times a day and as result of the partnership, signs pointing to Mecca have been installed on one of the Peak District’s most popular hiking routes – Cave Dale. A range of prayer mats has also been designed and produced specifically for outdoor use.

Working with OUTO, Wiggle and Adidas has allowed us to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors. Everyone should feel empowered to get outside and enjoy nature and this initiative makes it easier for the Muslim community to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer.

The prayer mats are made from 100 per cent polyester to make them lightweight, waterproof, and able to withstand the outdoor elements. Their design depicts contours – used on maps to represent topography – and was created in partnership with QM Design, a seventh generation Islamic crafts company.

The first 100 mats have been donated to the Muslim Hikers, with further prayer mats being produced for sale on Wiggle’s website, with all proceeds generated from the sales going to Wiggle’s charity partners.

The partnership has enabled us to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to inclusivity

Muslim Hikers is opening up the countryside / photo: Muslim Hikers

Signposts to Mecca have been installed

Originally published in Health Club Management 2023 issue 4