Elderly perk up exercise regimen to stay fit
Senior citizens joining gyms and working out with same enthusiasm, frequency and training levels as younger members
By Wang Zhuoqiong | China Daily | Updated: 2024-05-01 07:12
Silver economy
China's silver economy has been boosted by the rising number of elderly in the country.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2023, China's population aged 60 and above accounted for 21.1 percent of the total population, with those aged 65 and above making up 15.4 percent, indicating that the nation has entered a stage of a moderately aging society. The large senior population translates to ample potential consumption market for the elders.
This trend is more evident in first- and second-tier cities, where a greater number of middle-aged and elderly people are embracing new retirement lifestyles, which include taking up such pastimes as playing musical instruments, traveling, exercising and attending senior universities.
The stereotype of elderly people living frugal and sedentary lives has gradually evolved into them learning to work for a healthy life expectancy. However, in the area of senior fitness, a supply-demand mismatch still exists.
While creating corresponding products and courses to attract the elderly to the gym, the first step should be to set up exercise plans that can match the basic needs of seniors, said trainer Shao.
Besides emphasizing exercise, gyms marketing for seniors should also focus on promoting healthy lifestyle habits such as a balanced diet.
Regularly organizing member gatherings and guiding and communicating with the elderly by sports instructors can alleviate the psychological barriers of the elderly, said Shao.
Over the past few years, some gyms exclusively for the elderly have sprung up in Shanghai. Fitness operators such as Shangti Health Technology are exploring solutions for gyms that serve seniors in China.
The elder sports center in Shanghai operated by Shangti Health Technology offers workout facilities that allow the elderly to train passively through vertical vibrations that imitate rope jumping to stimulate and boost their physical cycles. These facilities help to significantly improve insomnia and digestion issues among senior citizens.
The company provides professional trainers to teach how to use workout facilities designed for the elderly.
Hou Suxi of Shangti said the facilities are designed to protect the knees and other vulnerable body parts of the elderly during exercises.
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