Staying active at any age: Older adults redefine fitness in the new year

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — This new year, staying active looks different for some older adults — focusing on balance, mobility, and staying active for years to come. 

“Step up. Try it,” said Karen Wetherill.  

Karen Wetherill is 78 and has been working out at Axis Fitness since last April.  

She had fallen into a slump due to personal traumas and because of her age, she was also struggling with arthritis in her knees, having to get steroid shots to reduce the pain.  

In the midst of despair, she decided to get into a fitness routine.  

Now, she has virtually no pain. 

“I came here and built the muscles around to support that and other areas of my body that were aging. I got my tone back, my muscle tones back. I’m strong. I’m very strong. My balance is phenomenal; I never thought it would be back there,” said Wetherill.  

Susan Brunell, who is almost 69 years old, has been exercising at Axis for around three years to maintain mobility as she ages.  

She says her progress is undeniable.  

“I mean, every day that I come I notice ‘Wait, I couldn’t even do that last year, and now I can do it with ease,’ so it’s that progress that you really do notice. It takes some time, but you do notice it,” said Brunell.  

Brunell says her main goal is to get back into competitive canoeing, and that her trainer is amazing for his specialized workouts.  

“He really worked with me to gain the strength I needed in my abs and my everywhere; he really showed me exercises that would help me throw myself into that canoe. I had a fear of that because of my age and general strength, and he made it possible for me to do that,” said Brunell. 

Both Susan and Karen train one-on-one with the head coach at Axis Fitness Wrightsville Beach, Josh Collura.  

Collura says the best way for older generations to stay physically healthy are the five basic movements.  

“The basic thing is movement. Just getting your body to do the basic, we call them the basic five movements; the squat, the hinge, the push, the pull, and the carry, because those are functions that you see in your everyday life,” said Collura.  

An easy way to remember the basics is for squats, bend your knees; for push and pull, just open and close a door. 

The hinge, bend your waist and pick something up, and the carry, hold something like a grocery bag and keep your arms straight.