When designing fitness programs for active agers, it’s essential to prioritize their unique goals, capabilities, and safety. Unlike competitive athletes striving for peak performance, many active agers are focused on improving their overall quality of life.
Our MyFIIT and SASS programs embrace this philosophy, ensuring exercise remains effective, enjoyable, and sustainable. One key way we achieve this is through a breath-based cueing system that encourages challenging yet sustainable efforts—steering participants toward long-term success rather than short-term strain.
The Power of Breathy Effort
Aiming for a “breathy” level of exertion rather than “breathless” intensity offers numerous benefits for active agers. This approach emphasizes maintaining a comfortable yet challenging effort, ensuring participants can engage in meaningful exercise without feeling overwhelmed.
MyFIIT, our modular interval training program, incorporates progressive intensity to support breath control, allowing participants to push themselves safely. By using the “talk test”—ensuring they can speak in short sentences without gasping for air—we create a space where movement feels empowering rather than exhausting. This aligns with the American Heart Association’s recommendation for moderate-intensity activity, particularly beneficial for individuals managing chronic conditions such as hypertension or arthritis.
The SAID Principle in Action
The Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID) principle underscores the importance of tailoring exercise to meet individual needs. For active agers, this means gradually introducing exercises that challenge the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems while considering their current fitness levels and health status.
SASS (Seated. Assisted. Standing. For Seniors) incorporates this principle by focusing on functional, low-impact movements that improve real-world strength and mobility. Instead of high-impact sprints, SASS incorporates dynamic balance drills, strength training, or controlled power exercises—all designed to challenge the body without overexertion. Keeping the effort within the “breathy” range ensures participants work hard enough to see progress while minimizing the risk of overexertion or injury.
Aiming for Success, Not Failure
The ultimate goal for active agers is to enhance their quality of life. This means prioritizing consistency over intensity and emphasizing success over failure. By promoting a “breathy, not breathless” approach, exercise professionals can help their clients build strength, improve mobility, and enjoy the countless benefits of physical activity without fear of overdoing it.
At The Move Mentors, our mission is to ensure that movement remains a lifelong habit—one that enriches both body and mind. Through MyFIIT and SASS, we create programs that celebrate progress, encourage confidence, and, most importantly, make fitness a joyful part of everyday life. Because when exercise feels good, it becomes something we want to do—not something we feel we have to do.
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