In Part 2, I shared results from an informal survey, where the majority of respondents, older adult participants in physical activity classes, experienced instructors’ negative and inaccurate assumptions about older adults’ physical abilities based on their age.
Participants who feel diminished by instructors’ ageist assumptions (and frankly, assuming a person is frail or weak solely based on age IS ageist) may not return to class or stop exercising altogether.
If they continue to participate in class, exposure to the instructor’s negative beliefs about their physical capabilities, can, over time, lead to an internalized sense of “why bother, I’m old and weak and can’t get better”.
The instructor’s negative beliefs may cause a participant to internalize ageist attitudes and possibly lead to a shortened lifespan, a truly horrifying thought.
For a more thorough examination of this concept, see Dr. Becca Levy’s book, “Breaking The Age Code.”
Having worked in the fitness world for over 20 years, I believe that most physical activity instructors would be devastated by the idea that their beliefs might influence a negative outcome and potentially contribute to a shortened lifespan for their participants.
Solution?
Examine physical activity class titles and look at them from the perspective of an older adult.
Do these titles convey factual information about what physical abilities are needed for the class?
Or do they use age-based descriptors (which don’t describe anything).
Honestly what is Yoga for Seniors? Any ideas?
Or perhaps conduct your own informal survey of older adult class participants and see what they say.
Part 4 will offer alternative ideas to age-based group physical activity titles and conclude this series.