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Specialize in Active Aging
Active Aging Programming
Finding a Niche
Active agers, or those 55+, seeking a healthier, active lifestyle, are a key demographic in gyms and can afford personal training. For trainers, specializing in active agers can be rewarding and essential for growth. In the KIPS Podcast, Dr. Dan Ritchie of the Functional Aging Institute shares his journey with active agers, founding FAI, and offering programming tips. Dr. Ritchie is a fitness presenter, educator, and entrepreneur.
Why specialize in active aging training?
A harsh reality of the fitness industry is its high 80% turnover rate, per American Spa (2019). Growing your client base is more complex than it seems, and mastering sales of personal training packages is crucial to avoid changing careers. The 55+ community is a vital demographic likely interested in personal training to improve retirement or active lifestyles, engaging in activities like hiking or spending time with grandchildren.
Education for working with active agers is a growing field within the fitness industry, and organizations like the FAI offer online and live options to help you build and implement better programs. Investing in education for active agers for your second certification can help you, as the fitness professional, be more confident working with this population and implement programs that help your clients reach their goals.
A niche is a specialization or focus that can help you strategize your marketing and programming.
Active Aging Programming
In this episode, Dr. Ritchie discusses an active-aging client’s goal to comfortably get in and out of boats during her Caribbean trip. Breaking down movements into components helps structure sessions. “The universal thought in this theory holds that exercises should replicate a movement as closely as possible in the type of muscle action and contraction forces” (McClenton et al., 2008, pp. 321).
What gym movements can mimic entering and exiting an unstable environment and strengthen each position for this client? Use tailored, evidence-based loaded exercises like ViPR Pro, kettlebells, or a Bosu ball to help clients achieve goals and build trust.
Importance of Finding a Niche
One of the final topics in this episode is the importance of identifying a niche, which guides marketing and programming. For a personal trainer, tailoring marketing to resonate with clients attracts new ones and strengthens current relationships. Would a client wanting to improve daily balance be interested in athlete-focused materials? Probably not.
Focusing on your niche enables investment in future educational resources. It helps improve client experience and explore education options. Specializing doesn’t limit working with other gym demographics, but optimizes efforts to boost your career as a fitness professional.
References
McClenton, L. S., Brown, L. E., Coburn, J. W., & Kersey, R. D. (2008). The effect of short-term VertiMax vs. depth jump training on vertical jump performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 22(2), 321-325.
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Additional Reads
Follow Dan Ritchie, Ph.D.
Dr. Dan Ritchie started his fitness career at Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Fitness and Sports Medicine. Then he spent a year as a graduate assistant coaching Division 1 athletes. He completed his master’s degree in Health & Physical Education at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater, where he won the 2002 Thesis of the Year. Then Dan continued as a Lynn Fellow at Purdue University, completing his PhD in Kinesiology with a minor in Gerontology. With over 20 years of experience, he has extensive knowledge of training the mature adult market and has equipped people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond to achieve their goals and enhance their functional longevity.