Spring is the time of year when people start to think about their health and fitness after being dormant in winter.

Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is encouraging people over 50 to visit the Active and Healthy website to access low-cost, local classes in their communities to meet new people and improve their wellbeing.

NNSWLHD Acting Director of Integrated Care and Allied Health Services, Kathryn Watson, said there is a wide range of exercise classes to support people to stay healthy and well.

“Local exercise providers are supporting our older adults to stay healthy and well, and can list their activities for free on the Active and Healthy website,” Ms Watson said.

“We want people to stay well, independent and out of hospital, and evidence shows local exercise groups and at-home exercises are a great way to make that a reality.”

Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah Park Active Fitness Instructor Susi Thomas runs a program to help people improve their balance.

“I have been a fitness instructor for over 12 years, and I am devoted to supporting older people in our community to exercise and get out of their comfort zone,” Ms Thomas said.

Park Active utilises the Best ProgramBalance Course, designed by Susi to strengthen and improve balance and reestablish the foot-to-brain connection.

“My sessions include 20 different fun activities from ball games to balance and agility challenges, all designed to leave the participant physically and mentally stimulated. Exercise should be fun, whilst challenging people’s current ability.

“My participants are aged from 50 right up to 96 years old, and we have between 15 and 25 people attending each session.”

CasinoFitness Instructor Louise Rooney has been running exercise classes for older adults in Casino since 2009 but has been running exercise groups throughout Northern NSW for almost 40 years.

“At my classes I, I see people improve their balance and strength; they also make friends and feel safe and cared for. I see how people benefit and can do day-to-day activities without the struggle,” Ms Rooney said.

“I figure out what is best for each individual and tailor the exercise to work around people’s health issues. One lady is 96 and she does my gentle exercise chair-based class with cardio that is all seated. Exercise helps with their coordination and cognitive ability and now she is throwing and catching a ball.”

Nimbin Fitness Instructor Gail Pierce highlighted the benefits of exercise in reducing pain.

“I love seeing how people’s confidence and coordination grow in my classes. My advice to people as they get older is to keep moving and don’t forget to play,” Ms Pierce said.

“I also see that people are in less pain when they exercise. People say they have greater core strength and that their knees and back aren’t hurting as much.

“People work at their own pace on their own program, and everyone has a program with their specific need in mind. We warm up together, people do their individual programs, and then we do cardio and stretch together.”

Healthy Ageing Health Promotion Officer Leanne White said one of the barriers to older adults exercising is knowing where to find information about what exercise options are available in their community, while exercise providers had challenges advertising their programs.

“The Active and Healthy website provides solutions to both barriers,” Ms White said.

“We are really encouraging local exercise providers to register their programs for free on the Active and Healthy website so community members and our clinicians can learn about local groups and support healthy ageing activities.”

The Active and Healthy website also has online modules of at-home exercise circuits so people can learn how to exercise from the comfort of their own home.

For more information visit activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au.