AGEnts of Movement

Matt Scheib, a judo practitioner, judo school owner, and professional stuntman, explains how Ukemi (falling techniques) translate into teaching people 55+ to reduce injury, fear, and stigma around falls, which he frames as a normal part of life. We discuss barriers created by fall-prevention-only language, the importance of changing the narrative around falling, making movement more fun and helpin...

Interview with fitness veteran, Mindy Mylrea to discuss creating classes that meet older adults where they are. Mindy shares her decades-long fitness career and how she’s focused on active aging through her SASS program (Seated, Assisted, Standing for Seniors), designed to let participants with very different abilities train together in one class. We cover: How to structure a class How to use simp...

Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, to discuss creating a true culture of active aging. Colin defines active aging as being actively engaged in life, grounded in a whole-person wellness model that goes beyond physical fitness to include mind, spirit, environment, purpose, and connection. We address persistent ageism in wellness and senior living, including “...

I’m sharing the presentation I did for  day one of the Advancing Resilience of Falls Prevention Summit hosted by the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging and the Falls Free Wisconsin Coalition. I dive into a topic that often gets overlooked in fall prevention conversations: social disconnection. We explore how social frailty and isolation contributes to cognitive and physical decline, reduced con...

Shared episode with the Modern Management of the Older Adult podcast.  This is a conversation with Dustin Jones from the Institute of Clinical Excellence. We discuss: Lessons learned teaching in cardiac rehab, senior living communities, and senior centers The evolution and challenges of the SilverSneakers model Why language and programming matter in shaping the aging narrative How room setup, chal...

Interview with Sabrena Joe PhD, Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise (ACE). We delve into the psychological aspects that influence motivation and wellbeing in group exercise, particularly for older adults. Sabrena elaborates on her research paper, which explores 'motivational climate' through the lens of self-determination theory, highlighting the co...

This episode of the Agents of Movement podcast highlights conversations and moments from the past year, featuring passionate professionals dedicated to changing the narratives around aging and movement. The podcast, rebranded from Second Act Fit Pros, includes excerpts from various interviews and panels discussing topics such as combating ageism in physical activity, the transformative power of da...

Laura Dow, founder of Stiff to Fit, and Cheryl Whitelaw, a Functional Movement Specialist and Feldenkrais Practitioner from Edmonton, Canada join the podcast. We dive deep into the topic of language and its impact on movement experiences, particularly for older adults. You'll learn how the words used by instructors can shape the confidence and participation of class members. Our conversation c...

Interview with John Sinclair, co-founder of Seven Movements and a leader in sport performance and personal training — to explore how microdosed, personalized movement routines can remove the biggest barriers to exercise. John breaks down the concept of microdosing movement: small, frequent bouts of physical activity tailored to each person’s preferences, abilities, and daily rhythms. We discuss wh...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Dessy, a geriatric physical therapist, to discuss fall prevention and how it's perceived among older adults. We cover the importance of positive messaging, the psychological impacts of fear of falling, and the significance of person-centered care. Dr. Desdy shares insights from her experience working in skilled nursing facilities and emphasizes the need f...

This episode highlights a project close to my heart: the Ability, Not Age paper — a collaborative effort by the Ability, Not Age Task Force, a team I brought together through what’s now known as Agents of Movement . Our goal was to challenge ageism in fitness and wellness by rethinking how we label and design programs for older adults. Too often, classes are defined by age — “Senior Fitness,” “Sil...

In this shared episode with Wendy Welpton, founder of Reclaim Movement and host of the Make Movement Matter podcast, we dive into the power of movement as we age and why it’s time to rewrite the story around aging and physical activity. After a running injury at 40 led to four years of chronic pain, Wendy discovered natural movement — a philosophy centered on training real-life, practical movement...

Physical therapist Erica Demarch.shares her intergenerational program aimed at promoting physical activity among all ages. She developed a specialized program involving her book 'How Do You Balance Like That?' which educates on balance systems in an engaging way using animals. These programs, initially piloted with Parkinson's patients and children, emphasize confidence-building, playf...

Jay Croft, a marketing expert specializing in helping gyms engage the over-50 demographic. We talk about the essential marketing strategies and importance of understanding and targeting specific people based on their needs and locations. We discuss the significance of using appropriate imagery to represent older adults, addressing their unique concerns and motivations, and ensuring a welcoming exp...

In the first episode of the rebranded 'AGEnts of Movement' podcast, I'm discussing the transition from 'Second Act Fit Pros' to 'AGEnts of Movement'. The podcast emphasizes the importance of movement, social connections, and purpose. I share insights and experiences from her inspiring guests, highlighting the shift from fitness-centric activities to inclusive and commun...

This podcast episode explores the innovative application of parkour for older adults. Erin is joined by coaches Susan, Darcy Olson, and Shelby Copeland to discuss how parkour can be adapted to build confidence, strength, and fall resiliency among older adults. The episode is the podcast version of their webinar 'Reclaiming Movement,' focusing on making parkour accessible and beneficial for...

Jesse Danger and Cristina Latici from The Movement Creative discuss their initiative to bring parkour to older adults to enhance fall resiliency and overall movement skills. They describe their unique company, which focuses on exploring and playing to develop physical fitness and a positive relationship with movement. Jesse, the CEO and co-founder, emphasizes empowering students' consent and r...

Mike Studer, is a neuro physical therapist, an educator, speaker, and author specializing in working with older adults. You'll get a deep dive into actionable advice and strategies aimed at fostering independence, resilience, and a higher quality of life for older adults through thoughtful and focused programming. Mike shares invaluable insights on: Addressing the fear of falling:  You’ll learn ho...

We're talking about the Dance for PD' (Parkinson's Disease) program with guest David Leventhal. David provides insights into the program's holistic approach to improving the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's through dance. The program incorporates physical, cognitive, expressive, and social elements, offering both in-person and virtual classes. David highlights research showing sign...

This special episode is recording of our recent event, Connecting Physical Therapy with Community Fitness for Older Adults . This event featured an incredible panel of experts dedicated to helping older adults stay strong, active, and resilient long after being discharged from physical therapy. The panel included four specialized physical therapists—Lori DeShelter, Teresa Gingles, and Betsy Spiele...

Andrew Telfer and Gill Erskine, are the founders of WildStrong bring fun, play, and human connection into outdoor physical activities. They’re tackling a huge gap in the fitness industry is not engaging, the 85% of adults who don’t want to step into a gym or engage in traditional fitness programs. Instead, they offer a refreshing, non-competitive way for people to explore movement, build confidenc...

Janice Jaicks is founder and CEO of FitnessFest Conference and Expo, AquaCon, and Desert Swim School. With over three decades of experience, Janice has been a driving force in education, connection, and inspiration for fitness and wellness professionals. From training aqua instructors nationwide to pioneering her Aqua Progressions Certification, she’s built a career on empowering others to move, t...

Michele Meinville is Personal Trainer and menopause and hormone wellness specialist with over 30 years of experience. Her mission is to educate and change the lives of those over 50 who are feeling stuck and want to improve their health. In our conversation, we discuss how fitness professionals can better support women going through menopause, tackling common physical and emotional challenges, and...

Laura Dow is a fitness expert with over 20 years of experience working with older adults. Laura is dedicated to helping people age actively and healthfully through fitness training, yoga, and wellness education. She is the creator of the award-winning company Stiff To Fit , which focuses on staying active as we age, and the author of the book Mind Your Movement: Six Essential Physical and Mental T...

Revisiting some of the most impactful and inspirational stories and insights shared by guests over the past year. The episode features excerpts from interviews with various experts, listed below. The conversations cover a range of topics from the importance of social media in fitness for older adults, tailored fitness programs, cultural expectations, motor skills learning, medical exercise, yoga f...