Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge offers a tremendous variety of opportunities to get fit. But what if you have trouble keeping up with your aerobics class, or you’re not sure of the best – or even safest – way to use the fitness equipment in light of your own condition?

That’s where a personal fitness instructor comes in. Fortunately, we have those at WCBR, too.

Richard Cormack, WCBR’s personal training coordinator, encourages people to participate in group classes as well – whether they feature aerobics, yoga, functional moves, strength-building or Tabata. Among other things, it is a great way for residents to socialize with their friends and neighbors.

On the other hand, an individual might “go to an aerobics class and find that it may not be intense enough for them, or it may be too intense,” he says

The advantage Richard, and the other personal trainers at WCBR offer is specialized training that is best-suited for the individual.”

It begins with a personal assessment, aimed at identifying what the resident needs, and what he or she can and can’t do without getting hurt. This is not a simple matter, he says, as “Age doesn’t determine fitness levels.” It varies from person to person. He and his colleagues also ask for a form from the individual’s doctor.

“I know the best exercises they should do,” Richard says. Participants usually take one or two personal classes a week, learning ways to get into shape and how to best go about participating in a class or working out on their own.

Resident Iveagh Gott really appreciates her personal trainer, who she says “is not afraid to tell someone who is nearly 90, ‘Well, you can do better than that!’”

In every class, “I have a goal that he pushes me toward.” The goals increase in difficulty each time, “so that’s progress.”

For her, the classes are a great way to stay in shape after physical setbacks. “I had a hip fracture,” she says. “I used to be a Senior Star dancer. Busy, engaged, involved with other people.” But then she had to stop driving because of eye problems, and it was difficult to get to her tap-dancing classes in the evening.

She reached out for help, and now she finds the personal sessions “invigorating.” And that’s not all she does. “I also take a regular class with others – balance class.” And thanks to the help from her trainer, “I can do better in the balance class.”

“I’m also stronger with such things as pushups,” she says proudly. “I do a lot of pushups.”

She definitely recommends the program to those who are up to the challenge.

One thing that might help encourage that: Richard says personal training is only $20 a session – which is remarkable when you look at the $60 to $100 prices at commercial gyms.

And the benefits can be priceless.