A program designed specifically to help older adults improve their physical fitness is being offered in the City of Cranbrook's Winter 2011 Leisure Services Program Guide.

The Fit Over 50 program will be led by John and Debbie Mandryk, who are Can-Fit-Pro certified personal trainers and older adult specialists. The program will provide adults 50 years and older with information about flexibility, strength and cardiovascular training and nutrition.

John says the program is meant to give participants a good baseline understanding, so there will be some education and some practical application over the five-week period the program runs.

"Sometimes it's just a matter of giving people the right information so they train properly and that's what we're about," he said. "For practical purposes, if we maintain good physical function we can reduce the amount of limitations and damage and maintain pretty good physical activity well into our 70s, 80s and 90s."

Monica Baker took part in the first Fit Over 50 program in November 2010 and said she was extremely happy with what she learned and her progress.

"One of the things they (John and Debbie) stress is when you stay fit you don't just feel better but you're pushing that age away," she said. "You can push the aging process away by staying fit and staying health and that kept sticking in my head."

Baker said the Mandryks were able to treat each participant in the program as an individual and also able to lead them as a group.

"I would recommend this to anybody," she said. "They tailored the program to the group and they were able to give each individual guidance and suggestions, no one was ever a failure and everyone, no matter what their fitness level, was able to do everything."

Another aspect of the program Baker liked was that no fancy equipment was needed for the exercises they learned. John said a minimum of fitness equipment is used in the program with focus on using body weight as well as inexpensive and easily available fitness equipment like mats and light weights.

Debbie says people don't need to make a financial investment in becoming fit but they do need to invest their time.

"What we want to do is help people to be as good as they can and reduce the amount of dependency they have," John said. "The whole concept is to live a long full life."

Baker said by being active she is setting a good example for her grandchildren, who she hopes will follow her lead and be active.

The course will include doing warm-up, cardio, strength and balance training, flexibility and cool-down. Participants will also learn to modify exercises to their individual needs.

Those interested in registering for the program, which begins Wednesday, Jan. 12, can register at Leisure Services at the Rec Plex.