I’ve always loved movement. I have been a dancer and mover all my life. So learning how to train differently as I age has been transformative for me, and how I train students over 40.

In my mid 40’s I started to notice that things were changing and I was in total denial. At the time I was teaching group fitness and training others in Los Angeles when perimenopause, menopause and other age-related changes started to keep me guessing. I felt like my hormones were going haywire so I went to the doctor in a panic. Then I asked my mom for confirmation. Turns out that women in my family start getting symptoms around 35-40. My children were then also out on their own so being an empty-nester I had to get used to having the time to pour into myself. Now I see that I have been given the gift of time to pay attention to my mental health and body.

But handling this change wasn’t easy. What do they say are the five stages of grief!? I am not even kidding! I was in denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I think it was more of seeing myself aging and finding out what that meant for my body, based on MY LIFE.

I used to go non-stop. I didn’t need much to “bounce back” and that is not the case now. I prioritise rest and recovery as goals. I am more concerned with staying mobile as I age. I am definitely focusing on the mental aspect of focus and concentration of quality movement in my Pilates practice and other modalities. I listen to my body much more now.

I have definitely learned that control, form, function and intensity is more important after 50. I think focusing on mindfulness and maintaining muscle mass, flexibility and mobility are key as you age. Changing your practice and making adjustments as you train is now a part of your routine.

I also found I had to find the space to REJECT the mindset that “allegedly” goes with age. I now also understand how important rest is to me presently.

That being said I eat what I like and what I need in moderation. I love a good protein pick-me-up snack before and after exercise. I also realise that the most important thing to nourish my body is hydration. Hydration is so important to your joints, flexibility and overall movement which is so important in life and of course, Pilates! Hydration is key in maintaining tissue elasticity, making your movements more fluid and efficient. Replenishing fluids and nutrients helps your body repair and prepare for the next workout.

I now also understand the importance of cross-training. I was a cardio junkie in a past life and I wouldn’t pick up a dumbbell. After becoming a movement professional my workouts changed.

I’d come across Pilates after watching Pilates DVDs by Denise Austin and that’s when I fell in love with mat Pilates. I never thought that I would be able to teach Pilates because there were no other Black teachers in my area. I later became a PiYo, a pilates and yoga fusion format instructor in 2014. I started to find that my group fitness students would have questions about Pilates and I didn’t have all the answers. So in 2016 I took the leap to become fully trained in mat and apparatus and I completed the Comprehensive Classical Pilates Instructor trained by the Equinox Training Institute in Los Angeles.

Then in my 40s I added Crossfit, Mixed Martial Arts and other hardcore high-impact activities to my gym activities. These days I do Yoga, TRX, Pilates and Dance because they all bring out different parts of my abilities. I go for long walks. I love a good swim! I enjoy the gym but I also love the convenience of online classes. I deeply appreciate the importance of strength training as we age. I absolutely love mixing up all the ways to move!

Because I hold specialisations in Women’s Fitness, Senior Fitness and Functional Aging I really enjoy designing programs to meet the needs of aging adults. I consider myself an active and aging adult. I think it’s important that as Pilates professionals we understand the theoretical, physiological and psychological needs from a personal and professional lens. Continuing education is important as a goal for instructors so they can adapt training techniques to their older clients.

What I also enjoy is that many of my clients have “grown” with me as I have progressed in my career. Most are my age or slightly older. We are in this thing together! We have noticed many of the same changes in our bodies and made modifications accordingly. When I teach in group fitness settings, older students appreciate my ability to make exercises more accessible on the fly because of my experience. It may seem small but knowing how much they appreciate being seen in a mixed setting is so important. It’s also important that we as Pilates teachers focus on practising positive self-talk but also have honest reflections about things we want to improve upon.

Mychele is a Certified Personal Trainer, Dance, Pilates and Yoga Instructor with over a decade of experience helping people build strength, improve mobility, and flexibility. She is known for her warm and encouraging teaching style, and her ability to help her clients achieve their goals in a safe and effective way.
You can find more about Mychele here.

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