Seniors Sweat For Free At Planet Fitness

NEWINGTON, N.H., Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As the home of the Judgement Free Zone®, Planet Fitness strives to celebrate members of all ages and fitness levels, and for National Senior Citizens Day, Planet Fitness will be shining the spotlight on people over 60. Beginning on National Senior Citizens Day, Sunday, August 21, and continuing through Wednesday, August 31, anyone over the age of 60 can work out for free at any Planet Fitness location throughout the United States. Additionally, during this time, anyone over 60 who wants to join Planet Fitness can do so for a special pre-paid rate of $99 for the year at participating locations.

Can you attribute working out to feeling younger? According to a new independent survey commissioned by Planet Fitness, people over 60 who exercise on a weekly basis feel 12.3 years younger than their real age. Comparatively, people over 60 who do not exercise at all claim to feel only 5.6 years younger.

So what do people over 60 want from their gym experience? In addition to feeling better physically (91%), living a longer life (70%) and feeling better mentally (64%), more than one third (37%) claim they belong to socialize with others.

The survey also shows that 52% of people over 60 who find the prospect of a gym intimidating cite "feeling judgement from others" as one of the top reasons. Knowing that the gym can be intimidating for anyone of any age, Brian Zehetner, Planet Fitness' Director of Health & Fitness and co-author of the book Working Out Sucks (And Why It Doesn't Have To), offers tips for everyone who might need some suggestions for how to make going to the gym a more relaxed and rewarding experience:

1. Be smart: start slow. Even if you're new to exercise, you probably have a good idea of your limitations so don't try to take on too much too soon. Nothing can be more frustrating than injuring yourself while trying to improve your health...especially for older individuals for whom the recovery process can take longer. Be safe and smart by going slow and establishing a foundation that encompasses cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and flexibility. Once you have this solid base established, you can add new activities that may be outside your normal comfort zone.
   
   
2. Don't be afraid to ask for help! In our survey, nearly one third (32%) of those intimidated by the gym say they're worried they won't understand how to use the equipment. Nothing is more important than working out safely, so take advantage of your staff and trainers to be 100% sure you know how to use the equipment properly. Nothing makes us happier than helping people find fitness fun and enjoyable!
   
   
3. Don't be discouraged by a little discomfort. People of all ages often complain of stiff joints, muscle soreness, and other minor discomforts when they begin to exercise, and this can be especially true for seniors. But these are all signs that your body has identified the stress you're putting it through and is responding and adapting. In other words, it's part of the process of getting more fit! Over time, you'll find that exercise becomes easier and the recovery process won't take nearly as long. It's at this point that your motivation will start to increase and you'll begin to reap the many benefits of exercise mentioned above. So stick with it...the payoff is well worth it!
   
   
4. Find a workout buddy. Trying something new can be a little nerve-wracking for everyone. So why not tackle it with a friend and get some additional motivation along the way? Find a walking partner or someone to go to the gym with you when your schedule permits. For most seniors, the talk test is a great way to measure the intensity of your workouts. If you can carry on a conversation while working out, you're probably enjoying yourself more than you would be working out alone, and still getting in some exercise at the same time – a win-win!

Planet Fitness offers an extremely low membership price of only $10 a month, and a variety of benefits including a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment, state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, unlimited small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the pe @ pf ® program and much more. Additionally, the PF Black Card® membership, which is $19.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,200+ Planet Fitness locations, as well as access to massage beds and chairs and tanning, among other benefits.

For more information or to join online, please visit www.planetfitness.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness).

About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of June 30, 2016, Planet Fitness had more than 8.6 million members and more than 1,200 stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online July 29 through August 2, 2016 among a representative sample of 1,005 adult Americans aged 60+ by Toluna, an independent research provider, under the guidance of RF|Binder's research team. The results are nationally representative according to the US Census Bureau statistics to accurately reflect the gender, age and region of the US general population.

Contact
McCall Gosselin
Planet Fitness
Vice President of PR & Communications
[email protected]
603-957-4650

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SOURCE Planet Fitness

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