Men’s Health Shares Four Fitness Lessons From Older Adults

Jaimar Brown began leading classes at his grandpa’s Richmond Hill Senior Center in Jamaica Queens, NY, in July 2023. His students manage arthritis, recovery after joint replacement, spinal injuries and other age-related limitations. Working with them shifted his view of fitness toward four priorities: small movements, posture, meaningful and enjoyable routines, and social connection.

One longtime client lives with the effects of a workplace injury from more than thirty years ago. She has undergone two spinal fusions and two total replacements of a knee joint. Regular seated exercises have strengthened the muscles supporting her joints while improving stability and mobility. Brown says modest activity still counts, including five minutes each hour for someone who spends much of the day sitting.

The classes also showed him how posture can influence movement. Students began arriving more upright after only a few sessions. Brown connects alignment with breathing, joint support and muscle use. He also finds that a personal reason for exercising can help people remain consistent despite chronic pain, fibromyalgia or sarcopenia. Enjoyment matters too: Friday sessions become dance parties featuring the electric slide and a conga line.

The social side may be equally important. Some participants live alone or rely on daily caretakers, while state-funded activities have fallen sharply since the pandemic. Brown’s class is the sole remaining activity for some of them. Weekly exercise gives the group a place to form friendships, encourage one another and enjoy moving as their physical needs change.