Health, Longevity, and Superaging With CrossFit

The “CrossFit Silvers” class is just like any other class at CrossFit Glasgow: full of people working hard, having fun, and making themselves better. Except there’s a bit more gray hair in this class than in others.

“It offers just what CrossFit offers: strength and conditioning,” says Vivian Henry, CrossFit Glasgow general manager and coach, of the class geared toward folks 55 and older. “It’s just tuned into their needs, and it creates a community.”

The affiliate started the CrossFit Silvers class about five years ago, and it’s helping members stay strong and agile enough to enjoy all the things life has to offer — whether that’s wakesurfing and keeping up with an 8-year-old son, as it is for 56-year-old Raymond Colquhoun, or simply enjoy the outdoors, as Cindy Wallis does.

“I don’t want to be struggling every day to get up and move,” says Wallis, who was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis. “I want to be able to get up off the floor if I fall, or do my gardening, get out for a walk if I choose, be able to climb a hill.”

That’s exactly what CrossFit Silvers is designed for, says affiliate owner Gavin Heselton.

“CrossFit is intended to be a hedge to stave off sickness and injury,” he says. “All of this work that we’re doing here in the affiliate is (to) help any adult to maintain capacity into late life.”

It’s working for Wallis.

“CrossFit has enabled me to live my life to the full, it has helped me do things that I never believed I could do,” she says.

And it’s something anyone — of any age — can experience.

“Do you want to live longer? Do you want to feel better? Do you want to look good?” Henry asks.

“CrossFit.”

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CROSSFIT CERTIFICATIONS

If you’re a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer or higher and have athletes over 40 years old, we highly recommend that you take the “Coaching the Aging Athlete” online certificate course. Upon completion, you’ll understand how to avoid risk factors for older CrossFit athletes and how to program effectively for the aging athlete.