Exercise Classes for Over 70sin Polegate, Eastbourne and Hailsham
If you're in your seventies and wondering whether it's too late to start exercising, you're not alone, and the answer is no. Legends is our coached small-group class at our gym in Polegate, a short journey from Eastbourne and Hailsham. It was made for people who haven't exercised in years, or ever.
Whatever your age, you are welcome here. You don't need to be fit, you don't need to know the equipment, and nobody expects you to keep up with anyone else.
Before you start: if you have a medical condition, or you're unsure, check with your GP or physio first. We're coaches, not doctors, and nothing on this page is medical advice.
Am I too old to start exercising?
Strength and balance are skills you can keep working on at any age. The UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines recommend that older adults do activities that build strength and balance, as well as staying active in general. The NHS gives similar advice for older adults.
We can't promise a particular result, and we don't claim exercise will prevent any particular problem. What we can promise is a one-hour, coached session where every move is pitched at you.
Strength for everyday life
Most people in their seventies don't want to lift heavy things for the sake of it. They want life to feel easier. So much of what we practise is built around everyday jobs:
Stairs
Step-ups and leg strength, so the staircase at home feels less like a mountain.
Getting up from a chair
Sit-to-stands, done with control and as many times as feels right for you.
Carrying shopping
Carries with a weight you choose, held at a distance you choose.
Balance
Short, simple drills, with something steady to hold if you want it.
Going at your own pace
Your coach explains each move, shows you what it looks like and offers an easier or a harder version. If you need a rest, take one. If something doesn't feel right, say so and we change it. There's no race here.
The result is that you can work hard on a good day and gently on a tired one, and still be part of the same group.
Building confidence
A lot of people tell us the hardest part is walking through the door. We understand. At your Group Intro you meet your coach, see the gym and talk through your worries before you do a single exercise. We show you everything, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about not knowing.
A small, sociable group
Legends is a small group, always coached. You get to know the people around you, and for many people, getting out of the house at 11am and seeing friendly faces is part of the appeal.
What a session is like
Each session is one hour. You warm up gently, work through a few simple strength and balance exercises, then cool down and catch your breath.
Legends sessions: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11am.
In your 80s? Whatever your age, talk to us
Add a Mobility session
Mobility sessions pair well with Legends. They focus on moving well and unlocking forgotten movement patterns. They run Monday and Wednesday at 8am, and Saturday and Sunday at 9am. Membership means you choose 10, 15 or 30 sessions a month and book anything on the timetable.
If you're a little younger, our page for over 50s and 60s might be a better fit. If you live with arthritis, type 2 diabetes or COPD, see our conditions page.
Frequently asked questions
Getting here
We're on a business park in Polegate, beside the Cuckoo Trail, so you can walk or cycle in and lock your bike up. There's a bus stop right outside and parking, including overflow parking, and we're easy to reach from Eastbourne and Hailsham via the A22. Polegate station is about a 25-minute walk, and Lidl is a 5-minute walk away.
Sources
- UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines, 2019 (gov.uk), older adults section
- NHS: Physical activity guidelines for older adults (nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-older-adults/)
- NHS: Strength and flexibility exercises (nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flexibility-exercises/)