Wellbeing for body and mind

27.8.2025 5.04

Seniors in a group exercise class in a gym hall with their backs to the camera. — The objective of guided exercise for seniors is maintaining and improving the participants' physical condition, improving their functional capacity and offering recreation. The selection includes different fitness classes, gym training, water exercises and ball games.Photo: Sampo Korhonen

The City of Espoo’s free senior workouts are popular, and it’s no wonder. Apart from the pleasure of exercise, they offer social contacts and refresh the mind.

On a Friday morning, people are starting to gather in the Tapiola sports hall well before the senior workout is set to start.

The majority of the participants are women, but there are some men, too. Jaakko Autio says that a few years ago, he noticed that his lower back was getting stiff. He needed to do something about it, so he started attending senior workouts and body maintenance classes with his wife.

He really took to physical exercise and now he exercises six hours a week. He also finds it important to set an example for his grandchildren and show them how important and fun exercise is.

“I’ve even been called an iron grandpa,” Autio says with a smile.

Irja Krooks admits that when she retired, she was wondering what kind of people actually attend senior workouts. Nevertheless, she dared to join in and was amazed at the good condition of even the older participants.

Now Krooks attends the senior workout followed by a body maintenance class twice a week.

“The best thing about this is the people I’ve met. If I miss a class, I find myself missing the workout already.”

The instructors may change from time to time, but this doesn’t bother Krooks. Different exercises and new moves also stimulate your brain.

Reija Mäkipää likes instructed exercise and professionally organised classes.

“I need an instructor when I exercise, as I wouldn’t work out alone. In these classes, you can adjust everything to your fitness and energy level.”

Exercise supports mobility, balance and muscle strength. It’s good to get your heart rate up and push as hard as you can at times.

Mäkipää also values the voluntary nature of the workout sessions. If you miss a class because you have other plans or just don’t have the energy for it, that’s okay.

Adjusted to your fitness level

This time, there are around fifty people attending the workout session. Sometimes, the number of participants has exceeded one hundred.

Instructor Jutta Hentinen starts the session with warm-up exercises. Then it’s time to pick up a dumbbell. Breaks are taken at regular intervals.

”If you want to work out more efficiently, you can add a squat,” the instructor encourages.

Soon, another dumbbell is added to the exercise. The instructor points out that it is always possible to take more breaks or only use one dumbbell.

The final exercise is for abdominal and back muscles, followed by cooldown and stretching.

Most participants stay for the following body maintenance session.

The oldest member of the group, Pekka Silventoinen, 91, comes in for body maintenance. He and his wife have decided to pass on the more strenuous workout but still attend the lighter body maintenance class.

“My mother, who lived to be 101, and my enthusiastic PE teacher at school got me interested in physical exercise. I exercise because I enjoy it. Competitive sports have never been my thing.”

For him, going to the gym is also a social event. It’s nice to talk with like-minded people about what is going on in the world.

“Movement is medicine, but it also helps you stay alert, feel good and make friends. I encourage men to join in!”