Garrison Niemiec and his wife, Alli, own Kaizen Performance Gym in Norman, Oklahoma. Over the last five years, they’ve coached more than 50 senior adults, and they believe it’s never too late to improve your athletic ability.
Garrison describes improving the ability for senior adults in the sense of getting up off the ground, if needed, or preventing yourself from falling as the start to having a much more functional and pain-free life.
“Your ability doesn’t have to be at high school, college, or professional athletic level, but at least an improved ability to perform day to day tasks,” Garrison said.
Garrison says no matter where you currently are, the path to improvement should include weightlifting, strength conditioning, and better nutrition.
“Research has proven that being active and moving weight or putting a load on your body will improve bone density and the muscular system and ultimately improve your health,” Garrison said. “Everyone has a ceiling, but there is no reason you can’t push toward yours and have a better quality of life.”
Kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous improvement and growth. Garrison has hosted the Oklahoma Senior Games Weightlifting and Fitness Challenge at their facility for the last five years and like the name of the gym, has helped continuously improve and grow the games.
Garrison’s goal has always been to make Oklahoma Senior Games Weightlifting, Fitness, and this year Powerlifting, both fun and competitive. In addition to Oklahoma athletes, lifters traveled from Arkansas and Texas to compete in the 2024 games.
Many senior adults are skeptical about how much they can improve their health and physical condition. Even if you’re on a walker and can come into the gym, Kaizen’s trainers can help you achieve improvement. If you’re home-bound, there are ways to challenge your body to make yourself more functional.
Concerning nutrition, Garrison points out that it all boils down to choices and choosing to eat healthier is an important step. It’s vital that everyone find a good source of protein every day.
“The way athletes are trained is the best way for everyone to train,” Garrison said. “There are obviously modifications you need to make to achieve your specific goals. A bodybuilder, athlete, or a senior adult are not going to train the same way, but at the end of the day, they are all going to use a lot of the same equipment.”
When the Niemiecs selected equipment to place in their new facility, it was a balancing act. They needed to make sure they had enough free weights in addition to machines typically used by people new to weight conditioning. Of course, seniors and anyone new to weight training can and do eventually progress to free weights that better simulate what’s needed in real life. Nearly everyone feels safer though beginning on a machine, but free weights and dumbbells help improve skills needed to function.
Another type of training you’ll find at Kaizen is the use of boxes that help with walking up and down stairs and stepping on and off curbs. All of the above will help with what is referred to as Functional Training.
Kaizen Performance Gym is known as a welcoming place to work out. Garrison and Alli strive to make it less intimidating to people who have never visited a weight training facility before. They make sure every trainer has the ability to train people of all ages. Kaizen works to help everyone reach where they want and ultimately need to be.
To learn more about Kaizen Performance Gym, visit kaizenperformancegym.com.
