‘It feeds our soul’
From burpees and classes to biking and playing the spoons, staying active is key
Anna Enman has a goal in mind for her next birthday: completing non-stop burpees.
She's a senior, so that will be quite a few in a row.
“For my 68th birthday in November, I am doing 68 burpees non-stop. I am currently building my capacity," says the woman from Harmony, P.E.I.
Enman has always been active, although not always involved in formal classes.
“My daily activities include snow shovelling in winter, cutting firewood in my woodlot, grass cutting, gardening, walking on beach and maintaining my home and cottage,” she says.
To keep fit, she both participates in Crossfit and walks (or does another activity) three times a week in addition to daily yoga practice.
“I have been working with weights for about 15 years but joined Crossfit about four years ago, where classes are closely supervised and the workout is graduated according to your daily abilities.”
She says she likes the variety of different workouts every day.
“Daily yoga for about 15 years helps my flexibility, Crossfit my strength and endurance and my outdoor activities are for my soul.”
WORKING OUT TOGETHER
Enman's part of a new breed of seniors, who are choosing to keep active. She works out regularly at Crossfit Summerside with her friend Paula Arsenault from Abrams Village, P.E.I.
Arsenault says she has been working out at Crossfit Summerside three times a week for almost four years now. She also enjoys brisk walking and biking sometimes.
“I'd say I was an active person over the years, but I became less active in the years prior to joining Crossfit, as I travelled almost three hours daily to my work in Charlottetown," she says.
"I remember having doubts I'd still be able to exercise substantially after that time of inactivity."
Approaching retirement, Arsenault scouted gyms in her area and signed up at Crossfit Summerside the month she turned 62 years old.
Since then, she feels she's become much stronger and fitter.
“I enjoy the variety of our workouts there, and the assistance of the coaches who demonstrate at every class and help me scale moves that are beyond my ability," she says. "They correct my moves when needed to reduce my risk of injury.”
Like her friend Anna Enman, Arsenault has also began setting birthday goals for herself.
“On my 64th birthday, I did 100 Crossfit burpees (from flat on the floor to full standing position for every one). On my 65th, I biked a local circuit of over 30 kilometres. I haven't decided yet what to do on my 66th," she laughs.
It's taught her a lot, she adds.
"Accomplishing these goals has shown me how my fitness and strength have improved with regular exercise," she adds.
“I didn't know anything about Crossfit before I showed up at a free class, but I think some people think it's mainly for super-fit youngsters. It's not. We are all ages, with each person working at their own level.”
'IT'S QUITE ENJOYABLE'
Betty Gibson from Dartmouth, N.S., has always felt the need to be active.
“I go to a fitness gym (360 Fit) three times a week. I still work full time, so I go Monday, Wednesday and Friday after work. It is a boot campstyle class using body weight and real weights," she says. "It is quite enjoyable, and the coaches are tops."
Gibson began 360 Fit in 2020, right when the pandemic hit, so at the beginning it consisted of a lot of online classes. She turned 60 that year.
Before 360 Fit, she spent three years at Third Degree, another boot camp-style gym where she said it was all about body weight.
“I started at Third Degree in 2017, a few months after my boyfriend proposed. I turned 57 that summer. I had taken two years off any type of exercise as I started dating again and wanted to spend as much time as possible with my new beau," she says, adding that she's since married her husband.
Before meeting her nowhusband, Gibson studied at Shotokan Karate for 10 years, from 2004 to 2014, where she earned her black belt.
“Before that, I was always conscious of my weight but couldn't afford gyms," she says.
So she spent time walking in the evening after her family was fed and settled.
"In my younger years, it was all about body image, but I could never get that perfect flat stomach and hourglass figure so I struggled, gave up, tried again," she says.
“I mostly kept active to keep up with my two kids, to be able to run and play with them. I remember tobogganing with my oldest (he was five) when I was seven months pregnant with my second.”
As she gets older, she realizes it's not about body image but the need to be healthy physically and mentally, so she has focused on trying to feel healthy instead of toning for that perfect body.
'IT FEEDS OUR SOUL'
The Scotsburn 55+ club in Pictou County, N.S., was established in 2007, and club member Joan Clark says it's an active group, with 40 members ranging in age from 55 to 82.
What appeals to member Sue Arsenault about the group is that “we each choose what we enjoy doing to keep fit and active and our membership dues help support the Scotsburn Recreation Association.”
Clark adds that it's a great group of people, all of whom enjoy being active. It's hard to choose her favourite activity, she adds.
“When I bike, that is my favourite thing to do, and then when I kayak on a beautiful summer day, there is nothing better.”
For Clark, the groups trip to Holland on a Bike and Barge tour was unforgettable and one of her favourite activities.
Group member Sandra Malenfant says her favourite activity was an overnight trip held annually prior to COVID and the trip to the Netherlands.
“Our last trip was a Bike and Barge Trip to Holland. We cycled trails and roads during the day and sailed the canals during the evenings. Then a few of us went on to hike in the Alps in Austria," she said.
“Camaraderie, exercise and getting out to enjoy nature are invaluable to all of us. It feeds our soul.”
“On my 64th birthday, I did 100 Crossfit burpees (from flat on the floor to full standing position for every one). On my 65th, I biked a local circuit of over 30 kilometres. I haven’t decided yet what to do on my 66th.”
Paula Arsenault
“I mostly kept active to keep up with my two kids, to be able to run and play with them. I remember tobogganing with my oldest (he was five) when I was seven months pregnant with my second.” Betty Gibson
'BE IN SHAPE TO PLAY'
Brendon Peters, who is from North Rustico, P.E.I., keeps fit in a unique way.
Peters' mother taught him how play the spoons when he was 12 years old, and he is now known to locals and visitors as the P.E.I. spoon guy.
“I've been in the music business for over 45 years on and off P.E.I. I started when I was about 12 and never stopped," says Peters, who can be followed on Instagram @brendonepeters.
In the spring, summer, and fall, he does a lot of music shows, playing two hours in the afternoon, five days a week. In the evenings, he is active in the summer months playing at least four evenings per week.
Peters can be found at the Sea Walk Park in North Rustico Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and at North Rustico Harbour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, showing people how to make music with the spoons.
"It keeps me in shape. Plus, I love playing the spoons and meeting people," he adds.
Peters says teaching people how to play the spoons and playing the spoons takes quite a bit of energy.
“After we finish, they always say it's harder than it looks.”
He gives people wooden spoons to start with because they are a bit lighter.
“The ones I use are homemade and a bit heavier – they are real spoons out of the kitchen drawer. I put a wooden handle on them for a better grip and so they are not so hard on the fingers," he explains.
“It's good to be in shape to play.”