How to Start a Fitness Class for 40-Year-Old Women

Organizing an exercise class can be challenging regardless the group it's geared toward; however, when the class is marketed for 40-year-old women, extra attention is needed. At some point in her forties, a woman will enter perimenopause. Her estrogen levels gradually fall, thus preparing her body for menopause. This increases fat deposition around a woman's abdomen and closer to the heart. Fitness is key to maintaining a healthy weight and warding off bone loss. A tailor-made fitness class can help.

Instructions

    • 1

      Decide on a class style that fits the needs of a 40-year-old woman. Schedule sessions that last between 45 to 60 minutes. Advise your participants to also exercise outside of class two to four more times a week.

    • 2

      Keep the cardio at a medium level. Classes such as water aerobics or those that simulate bike riding, without sprinting, count as moderately intensive. Vary the routine with intervals of different intensity.

    • 3

      Integrate strength exercises and stagger them throughout the session. Plan exercises using three different amounts of weight during the workout. Make sure you have a set of each for all students in land-based classes. Have students do one set with the lightest weight and then move on to heavier weights with each additional set. Use pool noodles and foam weights for aquatic exercise classes.

    • 4

      Research health concerns -- beyond stubborn weight gain and perimenopause -- affecting the 40-year-old female. Forty-year-old women are not immune to bone conditions, such as osteoporosis and arthritis. For safety purposes, alert participants in advance if the routine will involve high-impact moves, like jumps, or excessive twisting.

    • 5

      Determine the time and venue. Survey women in the 40-year-old age range on the times they prefer to exercise. Ask a few gym customers or other trainers. Also ask someone with authorized access to registration information for their informed opinion. Keep in mind 40-year-old women may be coming to class straight from work and their energy may be lagging. Make sure your workout venue has adequate lighting, ventilation and access to drinking water and restroom facilities.

    • 6

      Take your 40-something women back to their high school days with some classic rock hits. They'll sweat as they listen to the bands that made their parents' eyes roll in the backs of their heads. Listen to songs and match the cadence with your exercises. Keep in mind the highs and lows within your workout, and balance the music accordingly. Alternatively, buy a pre-mixed CD specifically marketed as workout music. Listen and then plan your routine according to the music, and avoid any legal issues that can come from making your own copy.

    • 7

      Spread the word. Utilize social media to excite women and get them registered for your class. Link contact and registration information to your social media accounts. And never underestimate word of mouth. Tell exercisers who've previously taken a class with you about your new class geared for 40-year-old women. Post paper announcements about your class or advertise in a local paper.