Seniors can experience Clubfit for free

Age is no barrier for Ray Barran as he embraces fitness. Photo/supplied

Ray Barran is not taking ageing lying down ... unless he's prone on an exercise mat.

The 72-year-old Mount Maunganui resident is a selfconfessed gym junkie. He can be found at Baywave Clubfit five days a week, and estimates he spends at least 15 hours a week there.

Ray, who describes himself as part of the Clubfit furniture, is wanting to share his gym joy and is encouraging other seniors to join him. What better time, he says, than now - Clubfit Baywave, Greerton and Papamoa is celebrating Seniors Month. Seniors can experience what is on offer at Clubfit, for free, during the month of November.

"A fellow oldie said to me at the gym the other day 'this is a good way to live'. He is right. I say to people 'don't stay sitting on your bum'. If you want to live longer then get that body moving along.

For the price of two cups of coffee a week you can invest in your health."

It was November 5, 2009 when Ray joined Clubfit Baywave. Clubfit had only been open a few months when he signed up. He tells how he started with a routine at the gym, visiting a few times a week. "Then I started the classes as well. Now they can't keep me out."

When he retired nine years ago his gym time increased to five days a week. Some days he tackles two classes. A sauna, "a walk in the water and then a jump in the spa" often follow his gym sessions and classes.

He does a gym workout five days a week and the classes he attends include spin, an activate (full function) class, body pump, and CXWorx.

The latter is perfect for him, he says, as he had a back operation about 30 years ago and this class is good for strengthening core muscles, which benefits the back.

Six months ago Ray had a hip operation. Following that he began attending an activate/mobilise class, which is perfect for beginners and based around functional activities for daily living, he says. Once he had recovered he moved on to activate (full function), which he describes as a blitz class for older people. Not all the classes he attends are solely for seniors.

Ray says attending Clubfit includes socialisation, as well as physical, benefits. "It is a big part of my life and I just love it. I am interested in people and a talker, so I talk to everyone. I am a singer too, so I sing at the back of the spin class. You've just go to enjoy your life," he says.

Clubfit manager Stu Stevenson says the Clubfit gyms have a healthy number of enthused seniors. The free November promotion was about enabling other seniors to have a taste of what is on offer, and many were making the most of the opportunity.

Clubfit's Seniors Month is for those 65 and older and includes free visits to the gym on Mondays between 8am and 3pm, and free attendance at the mobilise class at Clubfit Baywave on Thursdays at 11am.

"The 30-minute-long mobilise class is especially beneficial as we age. It consists of a warm up, low impact stationed exercises including upper and lower body strength, core stability and aerobic capacity development. The class concludes with balance training and some relaxing stretches," Stu says.

He says the benefits of socialisation for seniors cannot be under-played either.