Kathy Buckley, owner of the Bellingham Athletic Club (BAC) for 40 years, introduced Mike Locke, her most valued employee, who keeps her from worrying at night. Mike takes care of "movement" making sure it is safe and a joy. He joined the BAC right after he graduated from WWU in 1985 with a degree in Exercise and has continued his training ever since. He is a Certified Personal Trainer and a really great guy. Kathy admits with pride that this Rotary program is an unabashed commercial.
Mike explained to us that since we are living longer than ever, way longer, and because we lose 60% of our strength by the age of 80 as our muscle mass atrophies, we need to start a program of fitness training now.
One of three adults over 65 will fall down, and over 50% of these will shortly die or at best have to move to elder care homes. The biggest breakage risks are in the hips and the femurs.
So what keeps us from signing up?
We think it is too hard, we lack knowledge, we are afraid, or we think we are not fit enough. There is an incorrect perception that fitness begins with lifting weights, etc. It actually begins with wherever the client currently is. Mike gave us some simple movement exercises to do at our seats, and suggested that other important things to do include squats, lunges, pushing and pulling, carrying weights, balance exercises, and mobility - just keep moving. Moving oils the joints. Interestingly, strength can be doubled at the age of 90!
The BAC has a pool which offers swim lessons as well as lap swimming, water aerobics, family swims and Aqua Zumba.
This was a very persuasive discussion of the importance of fitness training, and I quote the motto of the Bellingham Athletic Club: "Life is a marathon, train for it."
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