According to the Associated Press, more gyms are opening with boomer needs in mind. The wire service reports that one such gym, Nifty After Fifty, plays softer music than a typical gym, and uses smooth, air pressure-driven equipment for strength training, as opposed to typical metal weights. So does Healthfit, a club based in Needham, Mass., where paintings adorn the walls and the average client is older than 50. FitWright, a club in Dedham, Mass., has seen particular interest recently from people in their 60s and 70s, and offers a special "gentle yoga" class for its less-limber members.
The AP says the business potential is huge, and expanding. Club 50, a fitness chain for the over-40 crowd, has mushroomed to more than 40 franchises since opening in 2003.
