Category: Senior fitness classes

Group Exercise, Small Group Training and Personal Training – what’s the difference?

Posted on | by Amanda Coombe
At Personal Best Fitness we offer you all 3 of these mediums to help you look, feel and function better. Recently, when some of our personal trainers have taught group exercise classes, we have had some questions and comments about why the class has been a different format, had different exercises or varied intensities. If you read below this may help, explain to why some classes are taught in a different way or format. Remember, ‘change is as good as a holiday’! What is Group Exercise? • This type of exercise involves instructors teaching and leading individual through in-person classes, usually more than 8 participants. • Group exercise classes are designed for different fitness levels utilising a variety of equipment to teach many types of classes, from cardio based, indoor cycling to fit bar and forever Active. • The class is pitched to the ‘middle’ and then some regressions and progressions of each exercise are offered where possible. The goal is fitness with fun! • Classes and instructors vary from time to time so please check Facebook each Sunday for an updated timetable. What is Small Group Training? • This type of exercise expands the personal trainer’s role from strictly one on one to small group training by working with two or more people, but in a small group of less than 6 typically. • The focus is on providing some personalised programming within the workout to cater for individual’s needs. • As the group is smaller more attention can be given to technique and individual feedback. And how is Personal Training different? • Personal training is a specialised service which includes individual goal setting, fitness appraisal and exercise programming with a personal trainer in a one-on-one setting. Personal trainers provide exercise technique instruction, monitor progress, and progress your program based on your individual response to the program. • It may include but not be limited to improving balance, co-ordination, functional strength, injury and exercise rehabilitation and cardio fitness to improve activities of daily living. Exercises are likely to reflect actual activities someone might do during the day. • Personal training also caters for people with chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, joint replacement and the like. • It enables you to gain the maximum benefits from the time that you have available. If you would like to know more, please have a chat with one of our team.

Improving Quality of Life and Brain Function

Posted on | by Amanda Coombe | Leave a Comment on Improving Quality of Life and Brain Function
Improving Quality of Life and Brain Function One of our goals at Personal Best Fitness is to encourage everybody to look and feel better and function in a more optimal way. Robert is certainly a ‘shining’ example of that.  Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) over the last 3 years. FTD is characterized by the nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain being lost. It can impact behaviour, personality, language and movement. Robert’s wife Heather has been a regular at Personal Best for some 10 years and is well aware of both the physical and mental benefits of exercise and knew that Robert was eligible for the Home Care Package that included funding for personal training. Prior to starting personal training with Fran, Robert had difficulty getting into and out of a chair due to his posture and lack of strength. He had put on weight due to his brain wanting him to be sedentary. Since Robert has started personal training with Fran, Heather can see many positive changes.

‘He is learning new motor patterns and movements and when he comes home from Personal Best Fitness, he is more engaged with the world around him and is more vibrant. Robert even now notices weeds in the garden and pulls them out, which is a great help to me.’

Robert’s carer Sandy brings him to Personal Best Fitness in a taxi and recently Robert gave the driver directions to the gym from the Eastern Shore! Heather feels that going to the gym is the most stimulating part of Robert’s week as it extends his brain function and it is significantly slowing down the rate of deterioration in brain function. Six months ago, when Robert started on the exercise bike, he could pedal for 3 minutes on resistance 4, now he has progressed to 2 x 5 minutes on resistance 7. Robert’s walking gait has also improved, and he is able to co-ordinate his opposite arm and leg. ‘It is so rewarding to work with Robert, he has a wonderful sense of humour, and he has started to ask why we are doing specific exercises. His posture, balance and strength have improved greatly, and he has lost weight’. Fran Robert now moves with more confidence and feels a great sense of achievement when mastering new exercises. If you know of someone who is eligible for the Home Care Funding Program and could enjoy a better quality of life, please have a chat with our front desk team.