Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

Play Isn’t Just for Kids

Play is often seen as something reserved for kids, a way to burn off energy and learn how to socialize. But it’s just as valuable for adults. In fact, play can be a powerful training tool that improves mental processing, reaction time, and the ability to adapt to unpredictable movement.

When we engage in play, we’re not just moving our bodies; we’re training our brains, muscles, and nervous systems all at once. Activities that feel like games help sharpen coordination, reflexes, and decision-making in ways that traditional workouts sometimes don’t.

What’s Really Happening During Play

Take a simple game of catch. It may seem basic, but there’s a lot going on beneath the surface.

Using something like a tennis ball challenges motor skills, depth perception, and hand-eye coordination. Add a rule like standing on one leg while playing, and suddenly you’re working on balance, focus, and control. Now layer in the unpredictability of a throw with different speeds, angles, or spins, and your brain is forced to react, adjust, and stay engaged.

This type of play improves:

• Attention control (focusing on multiple things at once)
• Cognitive flexibility (adjusting to unexpected changes)
• Spatial awareness and memory
• Quick decision-making under pressure

Compare that to a more routine workout, where movements can become automatic and require less real-time thinking. Play keeps the brain actively involved.

Building Creativity and Problem-Solving

As play becomes more complex, it encourages something called divergent thinking—the ability to come up with multiple solutions to a problem.

Players start to experiment:

• Trying new throwing patterns
• Changing strategies
• Creating unpredictable movements

This kind of imaginative play taps into areas of the brain responsible for creativity and planning. It makes the game more dynamic and, in turn, pushes everyone involved to elevate their skills.

Just as importantly, successfully navigating these challenges builds confidence and reinforces a mindset of continuous learning.

The Role of Reflection

One of the most effective ways to deepen the benefits of play is through guided discovery.

After a game, simple questions can help participants reflect and improve:

• “What were you focusing on when deciding where to move?”
• “Which throws were hardest to react to?”
• “How did you keep your opponent guessing?”

This kind of reflection helps connect the physical experience with mental awareness. Players begin to understand not just what they did, but why they did it—and how they can improve.

From Practice Back to Play

After breaking down skills and working on them individually, the next step is bringing everything back into the game.

With repetition, these skills become automatic. That’s the goal! Building reactions and coordination that don’t require overthinking in the moment.

Research continues to show that better coordination and faster reflexes can reduce the risk of falls and everyday injuries. But beyond the physical benefits, play also:

• Builds confidence
• Strengthens social connections
• Keeps movement enjoyable

Why It Matters

When people understand why play is important, it changes how they approach it. It’s no longer “just a game” it’s meaningful, high-level training that happens to be fun.

By giving individuals the tools to reflect, improve, and re-engage, we help them develop skills that last a lifetime. And maybe most importantly, we remind them that improving their health and performance doesn’t always have to feel like work.

Sometimes, it just looks like play.

When you were a kid, going out to play was something you likely did every day. No matter if it was riding a bike, skipping rocks at the pond, or running around the neighborhood with friends, it was just fun! Moving came naturally and easy and was not considered “exercise” to the adolescent mind even though it was most certainly keeping your body healthy. The reason I bring this up is because I want you to think about those times. They were a lot of fun, weren’t they? Sometimes in our fitness center, we will hear a member say that exercise isn’t very fun. We get it! Exercise isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but as a fitness professional, my goal is to find a way to make it fun for you. Another thing we will often here is “I’m not as young as I was!” or “I can’t do that type of movement anymore.” It is true, with the play you did as a child, there was probably a lot of falling, bumps, and bruises and that can make a person apprehensive to get started in “play” again. But that is why we are here, to explore with you and find a form of fitness that you enjoy. Yes, the several number of changes that tend to happen to the body as it goes through the stages of life can make some things more difficult, but we want to help keep it from being the reason you decide to play less.

A regular physical activity regimen allows older adults to maintain independence as they age and navigate their way through life. The recommended goal for older adults is at least 150 minutes a week (that’s only 30 minutes of movement each day!) of moderate intensity aerobic exercise with two of those days being some type of muscle strengthening activity to improve muscle and bone health. All exercise is beneficial, but when we start aging, the most beneficial type of program would be one consisting of balance, flexibility, strength, and endurance. An equal mixture of all four and over time can provide drastic improvement in your everyday life activities as well as the overall health of your body.

Think back to younger years when stretching before and after physical activity wasn’t a thing, what were some of your favorite activities? Did you play cops and robbers with your friends, jump and splash in the pool with siblings, or play sports with friends? What are similar alternatives?

Did you really love running cross country track because it allowed you to get outside and see nature, that could now be substituted for going on weekly peaceful hikes with your family or friends. Explore local nature reserves and trails!

Did you like heading to the community pool or pond for a day with friends? Join your nearby fitness center and check out aqua classes or invite a friend to water walk!

Did you enjoy tennis? Consider taking up pickleball! A very similar game to tennis with less court to travel requiring less intense hits to get the ball across the net.

Did you belong to a bowling league? Believe it or not, virtual (Wii) bowling can be just as fun and competitive while also challenging your balance and stability!

Of course, we also suggest starting with your fitness professional! Talk to them about what you enjoy and what you don’t about exercise. We can help find ways to make it fun while increasing stamina and strength to enjoy “playing” more! Don’t forget that physical activity over time can improve quality of life and can increase longevity while decreasing other conditions that may come up. If it has been a while since you have exercised, that is okay! If you can make exercising social and fun, it can become something you love doing which helps to stay motivated instead of feeling like a chore.

Want to get a full body workout without the aches and pains of traditional exercise? Aqua exercise could be perfect for you! This low impact exercise is for people of all ages and varying physical abilities. Aqua exercise is especially great for the active aging community. Common workouts performed on land such as walking, running, and weightlifting, are important for building strength and endurance, but these workouts can be strenuous on the joints, ligaments, and bones. There are many ways to exercise in the water and you can do it with or without any equipment. Moving under water is a full body exercise, working your muscles in every possible direction with decreased rick of injury due to less impact and strain. With the help of specially designed exercises, you can achieve a full body workout, activating every muscle group without dealing with stress and strain conventional exercises can cause you. Listed below are four reasons you should be exercising in the water!  

GRAVITY. The biggest difference between exercising in water versus land is the effect of gravity on your body. In our daily lives outside of water, we are constantly feeling the force of gravity at 100%. This force is most felt in the ankles, knees, hips, and back, especially during exercise. Submerging just hip deep into water will eliminate 50% of that force! If you go even deeper into water to perform your exercise, the amount of pressure on your body will continue to decrease. The water alleviates pressure off your bones, ligaments, and muscles. Because of the vast differences between land and water, exercising in a pool is perfect for individuals with chronic pain, arthritis, joint replacements, and even just general lack of strength.

HEALTH BENEFITS. It is important to always exercise according to your own physical abilities and limitations. Just like exercising on land, you can exercise in the water with the goal of elevating your heart rate and breathing for short bursts at a time. Studies have shown that older adults have seen improvements in body composition, explosive strength, functional fitness, and cognitive function after participating in several weeks of aqua aerobic exercise.

ADAPTABILITY. There are many ways you can cater your water workouts to best fit your goals and physical abilities. If you are not the best swimmer, you can purchase a floatation belt or vest which will help to make you feel more comfortable performing exercise in the water. If you want more traction in the water, you may want to consider wearing water shoes or athletic shoes into the pool. There is also equipment you can use to increase the resistance on your muscles and help to build even more strength. You can use water weights which are generally shaped like dumbbells that range in the level of buoyancy. A pool noodle is also a great tool to perform both upper and lower body movements. 

If you have never tried an aquatic workout, I challenge you to give it a chance! You can even perform the same exercises you typically do on land in the water and see the difference.

The upcoming season can be hectic, and we often let our routines fall off track. Let’s keep you motivated into the cold months with 7 ways to stay motivated while starting or continuing your exercise program.

Tips to Stay Motivated:

Set Goals - Make sure you set realistic and attainable goals for yourself. For example, going to the Fitness Center three times a week for 30 minutes or taking a 15-minute walk three times a week.

Eliminate Barriers - Create an accessible, safe, and simple exercise program or ask your trainer to create one for you. Pick a day and time that most suits you.

Be Creative - Make an exercise routine that is different and fun. Stay away from doing the same thing all the time to avoid exercise becoming boring. For example, walk outdoors on a nice day to enjoy the scenery, switch your exercises up (reps, sets, order or even the exercise), or try adding a sporting activity. The old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks needs to be ignored in favor of exploration and creativity.

Reach Out – Connect with you onsite fitness staff or your local senior center. These are amazing facilities that offer a lot of different physical activities. Some centers/senior living communities have an available trained staff like NIFS to help, so ask your Wellness Coordinator, Health Fitness Specialist or Personal Trainer what they have to offer. Find classes or groups to join. Different types of exercise classes, dances, walking groups and water aerobics provide fitness and fun entertainment.

Have Fun - Pick exercises that are beneficial but ones you enjoy doing. Do not chose an exercise that you dislike, or you will dread doing it. Add humor, work out with people that make you laugh or that you can make them laugh. Listen to your favorite music or watch your favorite T.V. show while you exercise can help you complete your daily exercise goal.

No Excuses - Never make excuses for not exercising, avoid these excuses:

• Lack of time and interest
• Having an illness or being disabled
• The fact that exercise is expensive
• Dislike of exercise activities
• Lack of friends or people to do it with
• Lack of convenience
• It hurts
• It’s not fun
  Nonetheless, the importance of exercise surpasses any excuse given. With perseverance and creativity, you will be able to get started. Once you get started and start noticing all the benefits and results you will want to continue and maybe even exercise more often.

Be Focused on the Facts - Know the strong link between exercise and stable physical condition and health. When we begin physical activity or an exercise program, we feel much healthier and happier. Being physically active will make your daily activities easier and more attainable. The harder activities will become easier, and the not so hard will become simple. Not even mentioning the fact that you will be more independent.

 What will be your first step to staying motivated with your exercise routine??

In the Active Aging community, group fitness is a large part of a resident’s daily life. Exercising solo and following a written workout plan doesn’t cut it for some residents. They need an extra motivational factor, such as being with a group and having someone instruct them step by step. Having friends around at all times is important to residents. It gives them a sense of security and accomplishment when they look in the mirror and see themselves exercising with close friends in the community.

Here are three ways to keep group fitness class fun and engaging enough for residents to return day after day.

Encourage New Participants

Retaining members in group fitness is simple, but trying to get new people interested is another trick. Establishing a rapport with residents before trying to suggest new things for them to try is a successful tactic. It shows them you care, and you’re not just trying to boost your numbers. Reach out to new residents and set up a tour. Set aside time for questions and concerns regarding the fitness center and how everything operates. Making them feel comfortable in the setting is vital.

Allow Time for Socialization

Class time is precious. Some days we are on a very tight schedule, but encouraging people to arrive to a class 5–10 minutes early can make a difference in the class flow. One way to start the class off on a positive note while allowing for some socialization is to greet all members at the door upon entering. It gives them a feeling of calmness and warmth knowing that their attendance is recognized and appreciated.

Another suggestion is to open the class with a question about a recent event that occurred within the community; for example, a community-wide meeting, a recent bus trip, or last night’s meal or party. (But be careful when asking about the food. That seems to be a hot topic at all communities.) This will allow for some interaction among residents and energize them before the class kicks off.

New residents often do not know many people when coming into a community. If a new resident comes to class, give them a warm welcome by introducing them to the group. Or, if that resident comes off as shy, quietly introduce them to their neighbor. It might turn into dinner plans for that evening!

Vary Exercises and Formats

Here are some ideas of ways to keep things fresh and challenging:

• Residents love structure and routine. Keep class schedule changes and time alterations to a minimum. Too much change ends up having a negative impact on the group fitness program.
• Many see the clock strike 10am and know there is a class going on. So, having a different type of class at 10am each day is a good way to give residents a variety of exercise.
• Keep a routine warm-up and stretch routine in each class. It allows for residents to settle in and limit confusion while getting adjusted.
• There are so many exercises and creative ways to cue an exercise, so use them to your advantage.
• A couple different variations or intensity modifications per class is a way to make sure each resident leaves the class feeling challenged. It is tough to find a happy medium between too challenging and too easy because most classes have people with a variety of skill sets in attendance even if the class is noted as “high level.”
• When providing a new exercise, speak slowly and clearly so that the residents can grasp what you are saying. Giving a brief explanation for the variation or how it will impact their strengths/weakness is also a good way to keep the residents engaged.
• Constantly teaching new information has been a successful tactic in keeping group fitness classes well attended at some communities.

It should come as no surprise that most people aim to improve their lives in one way or another with the start of a new year. Particularly when it comes to focusing on better health and fitness, January’s clean slate seems to be the ideal time to get back on track and into shape immediately following the busy holiday season and prolonged period of indulgence. This seems to be a universal practice as we have found that to be no exception for our members and residents in senior living communities!

NIFS partners with communities across the US to manage their fitness center programming. Similar to most public gyms, our staff also notice patterns related to New Year’s resolutions. In the first few days of January we have come to expect an influx of participation, but these numbers start to decline after a few weeks as old routines creep back and resolutions are abandoned.

Knowing how to set goals, find motivation, build better habits, and remain consistent are all huge components of why so many “resolution-setters” fail. In fact, one study conducted by the University of Scranton suggests that only 8% of people stick to their resolutions, so we saw this as an opportunity to better support the communities and residents we serve and developed NIFS Five Star Fit Club. We piloted this program in ten communities for the first time in January 2019 and it resulted in:

• Total visits: An average increase of 21% in total resident participation to the fitness centers in January 2019 compared to January 2018.
• Group Fitness Visits: An average increase of 28% in participation in group fitness classes in January 2019 compared to January 2018.
• Appointment Volume: Resident engagement increased by 135% in the number of appointments conducted in January 2019 compared to January 2018.
• New Members: Across the communities, a total of 43 residents began participating in their fitness center for the first time as a direct result of the Five Star Fit Club program.

This incentive program is three weeks long and includes both a personalized assessment and exercise prescription as well as an interactive workshop where residents learn how to effectively change their habits and routines. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit their community’s fitness center independently and attend a set number of group fitness classes. The premise of the program is for participants to earn five stars over the three-week period by participating in the mentioned programs and services. In doing so they are being recognized and rewarded, experiencing accountability, and sensing small wins all while creating sustainable healthy habits and routines to keep them on track for the remainder of the year!

In 2020, even more NIFS clients are kicking off the New Year with the 5-Star Fit Club and we look forward to hearing about the healthy habits and lifestyle choices residents adopt. Robust programs like the 5-Star Fit Club are a great way for senior living providers to support resident well-being while increasing utilization of amenities such as their fitness centers and pools. Click here for some other programming twists brought to NIFS clients.

Active Aging Week is always an exciting time for the NIFS Active Aging team. Our team members work hard to create opportunities for the residents ranging from sports, recreation, and trivia to meditation, education, and beyond with the goal of celebrating a positive view of aging. NIFS staff members across the country went above and beyond this year to encourage residents to step outside of their comfort zones and celebrate actively aging all week.

This spirit was most certainly demonstrated by the water volleyball tournament that took place between our senior living sites in Chicago, IL, and Lincolnwood, IL this year. I had the opportunity to speak with both Ruth, the NIFS Fitness Manager at Lincolnwood, and Leah, the NIFS Fitness Manager at Chicago, to see how the day went. Check it out!

Q: What inspired the idea of a water volleyball tournament between Lincolnwood and Chicago?

Ruth: I really wanted to put together more activities between our Illinois sites, and water volleyball seemed like a great way to get our residents together and get to know the other community. Leah did a great job of getting her residents to practice and actually come with their A game this year. I really would like to host chair volleyball tournaments to include Wyndemere as well since they don’t have a pool.

Leah: Last year, Lincolnwood came to the Chicago site to play water volleyball. We assembled a team for the event without ever practicing. The Lincolnwood players told the Chicago players that they “skunked us,” and that didn’t sit so well with our competitive residents. A rematch with Lincolnwood was one of the first requests I received when I started in Chicago last March. From there it was just a matter of timing, and we thought tying it into Active Aging Week was a great idea!

Q: So, let’s get the obvious question out of the way…who won?

Leah: I’m proud to say we brought the Poinsettia Trophy home this year. We had several residents who had played last year say they would only play this year if we practiced first. I put four practice times on the schedule, and the players enjoyed it so much they requested two additional practices. They were taking no chances this year and their hard work showed…we “skunked” them!

Ruth: Yeah, yeah they beat us...this year! We have an ongoing water volleyball group here at Lincolnwood that meets on Saturday mornings. They have a team resident leader, and honestly they were overly confident this year and really didn’t play to their full potential. Nonetheless, we loved having the Chicago team here and enjoyed the time together since we do a lunch afterwards as well.

Q: What do you think the residents enjoyed the most about the tournament?

Leah: Play is one of the best things you can do for your mind, body, and soul; and unfortunately, it seems like we lose sight of that as we age. This tournament gave our residents the opportunity to reconnect with their younger selves, become part of a supportive team, play, and have fun! Our team is a competitive bunch. They were jumping, leaping, and diving for the ball. One resident told me after the tournament that being on this team was the best workout and the most fun she had had in years.

Ruth: Definitely promoting water volleyball is a way to reach out to our residents as another form of exercise beyond the standard fitness classes. They love the competition aspect and really enjoy developing as players, regardless of their age! Many of them played volleyball throughout their life.

Q: Were there any surprises? Anything that stands out from the day?

Leah: My residents were shocked and not too happy to find the beach ball at Lincolnwood was quite a lot bigger and heavier than the ball we have at Chicago. It really threw the team off during the first game (which is the only game we lost at the tournament). It was fun to see them adjust their style of playing.

Ruth: We actually were equally surprised last year when we had to play with a smaller-version volleyball; perhaps we need to come up with an in-between ball. I think the biggest surprise for us was how prepared the Chicago players were, their setups were definitely practiced.

Leah: There were many highlights of the day, but the thing that stood out to me most was the game-winning point of the final game. There was so much tension in the air as our resident made the final serve. When the ball dropped to the water and scored the final point, the Chicago residents just erupted with a cheer. On our way home the team asked if we could continue to play once a week and open it up to all senior living residents. It is now on our schedule every Wednesday at 1 pm!

Ruth: The good news is that our players surprised me by not being upset over the loss; they embraced the camaraderie among both communities. They also appreciated the positive comments regarding the pool size and the luncheon, but they are excited about next year and heading back to playing at The Clare.

Q: Do you have any advice for fitness staff who want to host a similar tournament in their community?

Leah: I definitely recommend having a few practices before playing an actual game and communicating with the other facility about towels and water. The site in Chicago provides towels at the pool, but Lincolnwood does not, so I was thankful Ruth let me know that in advance so we were prepared.

I’d be sure to clarify the rules with the players before the game.

Ruth was kind enough to coordinate a buffet lunch after the tournament so all of the players got to enjoy a lunch together. Timing wise, we allowed 30 minutes between arriving at Lincolnwood and starting the game, and 30 minutes between the last game and lunch. We could have done 20 minutes between each instead because our residents transitioned more quickly than expected. In addition to the Poinsettia Trophy, Ruth also prepared a laminated certificate for the winning team, which we framed and will hang in our pool area. The residents are extremely proud of the certificate and have brought their grandkids in to show them.

Ruth: Ditto on the above. Have those rules laid out in advance so all the players understand before the tournament and set up practices months to weeks before the actual game! It really is just a fun way to bring communities together and showcase NIFS’s work in providing programs that continue to encourage a “healthy lifestyle” for both the mind and body to equal active aging!

Thanks for sharing, Ruth and Leah!

To learn more about partnering with NIFS to manage your senior living community, click the link below. 

When planning exercise and physical activity programs for our active older adults, it’s sometimes easy to get lost in the nuts and bolts of programming, and as a result, we can forget to ask one important question about our programs.  “Are the residents having fun?”  We know how important fun and play is for all ages, but it’s especially crucial for senior living residents that commonly struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

Finding ways to create a fun environment is especially important when developing exercise programs because for most people exercising isn’t inherently a “fun” endeavor. This is even more the case for the average active aging resident who might have limited exposure to exercise, and when they think of exercise all they picture is what they see on reality TV shows. So, how can we can make our programming more enjoyable for all residents?

Playing sports

We don’t always think about sports when it comes to senior living, but sports play is a great way to add fun into your current programming, and to provide your residents a chance to relieve past glories, or have an experience they’d never expected to have. The best part is that every sport can be modified to fit your residents and their abilities. This past spring we introduced Chair Volleyball to the residents at North Oaks, and it was an instant hit. They had so much fun, that they played for almost an hour and didn’t realize it. Most encouraging was that the majority of the group had never played volleyball in their lives, and now had a brand new experience they could return to for social interaction and movement. 

Adding a social aspect to group fitness classes

This is the simplest, cheapest, and easiest thing you can do today. Instead of just walking through the door, teaching, and leaving; strive to make your classes more interactive. This could be as simple as having participants count repetitions when lifting weights with you. Earlier in my career I started classes off by telling a silly joke, and it became a hit. From that point on, I allowed participants to provide the jokes every day. It was simple, a lot of fun, a great opportunity for important social interaction, and was something to look forward to before each class. 

[Read More: How One Community Got Focused on Brain Fitness]

Striking up random silliness

Here is where you have a tremendous opportunity to be creative and take advantage of the personalities of each residents.  It can be as simple as playing music with different themes in the fitness center, in a group classes, or having a day where the participants wear funny hats and dress in the same color. The potential ideas are limitless and can really help create an environment where the residents are active members of your programs and not just passive participants. 

 Obviously, what every person considers to be fun will be different, but that provides an incredible opportunity to try new things and think outside of the box. Finding ways to increase the “fun level” of your programming can sometimes be a challenge, but there are plenty of easy, lost cost ways to increase the value of programs for residents.  What are some ideas that you have tried in your facility to make your programs more fun? If you’re thinking about this for the first time,  it’s time to have some fun and get creative!