By Elossa founder Lilliana Barone

We know maintaining an active lifestyle by engaging in regular exercise is important to enjoying a good quality of life, especially as we get older. However, sometimes transitioning from the ‘knowing’ to the ‘doing’ can be hard.

Barriers to exercise can be difficult to overcome. The important thing is to identify your own specific barriers to exercise and then find ways to overcome them that work for you.

Some common barriers to exercising for older adults are:

• Health Issues

Chronic health conditions or age-related ailments can make exercise more challenging. Conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and joint problems may limit mobility and increase the perceived difficulty of exercise.

A strategy lies in finding an exercise program that is tailored to address individual needs and specific health concerns.

Age or health status should not be a barrier to participating in exercise. However, it is crucial to collaborate with expert health professionals such as an exercise physiologist to ensure the exercise is appropriate, safe and effective.

• Fear of injury

Concerns about potential injuries or apprehension due to a previously sustained injury can be a significant barrier to engaging or re-engaging in exercise. There can be a catch-22 scenario where the fear of injury prevents a return to regular exercise which leads to a decrease in fitness and strength, which in turn leads to increased risk of injury through falls, joint instability and decreased mobility.

To alleviate this fear and reduce the risk of injury from falls, it is recommended to seek expert guidance on proper exercise form and participate in an exercise programme that enhances functional fitness, strength and balance.

• Not fit enough

You have to start somewhere and that somewhere is where you are at now. An appropriate exercise programme will meet you at your baseline, no matter what that is. It is important to remember that this is your fitness journey so don’t compare yourself to others.

• Not enough time

Time constraints are an all too familiar barrier to regular exercise. Workouts don’t have to be long, in fact, the physical activity guidelines recommend 30 minutes most days a week.

Integrating physical activity into daily routines, blocking time out in your diary for exercise, exercising with friends are all strategies that can help overcome the barrier of time.

Exercise should be prioritised especially as we get older, so that we can keep doing what we love to do and go back to doing what we used to do. Thinking of exercise as medicine may be the strategy that works.

• Social support

Social isolation is another common barrier. The importance of social interaction can’t be underestimated not only from the perspective of longer-term commitment to exercise but also to fostering a sense of connection and facilitating new relationships. All so important for our general well-being.

Engaging in exercise is an investment in yourself for today and for the future. Overcoming barriers to exercise by implementing individualised strategies is key to incorporating regular exercise. Finding somewhere you feel safe and supported and most importantly enjoy going to will mean that you are more likely to stick to a regular exercise habit for the longer term.

Elossa is a specialised Gym for over 60s that strives to provide a safe and supervised space where members can combine strength, balance and cardio training to become healthier and stronger.

If you are ready to break down your barriers, book into an initial assessment with one of Elossa’s Exercise Physiologists by calling 0468 357 720 or visit www.elossafitness.com.

Elossa’s newest studio is at 2/7 Minga Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre.