Fitness
Fitter at 60 than 20: How George gained fitness and friendship by joining the circus
When Mary Wyer first tried the static trapeze she couldn’t hang for three seconds.
But by the end of 10 weeks, she was performing in front of a crowd.
Five years on at age 60, she attends classes and open training three times a week at a trapeze school in Petersham.
“The performative element is very motivating, more so than any other forms of exercise,” Ms Wyer says.
After noticing the lack of opportunities for older amateur participants to perform, she decided to organise a special showcase for those aged 50 and older.
“I don’t really love the idea of circus competition,” Ms Wyer says.
“But even if you wanted to, [we’re] unlikely to get into those because, you know, our bodies are slightly different and don’t do all the things that those young ones do.”
Before braving the cables, Ms Wyer watched on the sidelines for seven years as her daughter performed in a troop at the school.
As part of a Mother’s Day special, the parents of the children joined the class and Ms Wyer was invited up on the circus apparatus.
“It was embarrassing. I looked awful, I looked uncoordinated and I’d thought I’d missed the boat,” she says.
Months later, Ms Wyer saw a parent perform with her son at the student showcase. She had drastically improved since their first attempt.
“I went, ‘Hang on, you were just as bad as me. What happened?’ And she said, ‘Well, I just took some classes’ and I went, ‘OK, I’ll do that too,’” Ms Wyer says.
In a shiny space-themed costume and to tunes from the B-52s, she performed the static trapeze over 2 metres off the ground at the 50 & Up showcase last weekend.
“There is a little bit of fear, you know, because you are trusting that you’re going to hold on and not slip,” Ms Wyer says.
“I try and put something in that scares me a little bit so that I push myself harder to do it.”
Fitter at 60 than 20
Since joining the trapeze classes, Ms Wyer has felt numerous health benefits, particularly in her core and shoulders.
“My shoulders are much stronger. I used to tear them at the drop of a hat, they don’t tear anymore,” she says.
“As you’re moving into older age, it’s so important to keep that muscle bulk happening.”
Trapeze student George Argyrous is fitter now at age 60 than he was in his 20s.
“The physical benefits, you can’t describe it. You go into it thinking, ‘Well, maybe I’ll just slow the rate of deterioration as I get older,’” he says.
“But actually I’m doing things now that even a year or two ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to do.”
Mr Argyrous has tried other forms of exercise, such as yoga and pilates, but none of them challenged him like the circus arts.
“The constant feeling of progress is really important,” he says.
“I’ve been doing it for 10 years now. And I’m always thinking, ‘What can I do next? What little thing can I improve?’”
At the 50 & Up showcase, he performed his favourite circus apparatus, the silks.
In a white dress shirt and red cummerbund, he spins around metres into the air, pulling his body up with one arm, using the upper body strength he’s gained from years of circus training.
Maintaining balance and flexibility
Losing flexibility and stability is a natural part of aging, but it’s critical to maintain as much as possible, says physiotherapist Anna-Louise Bouvier.
“Balance is absolutely critical … we know that if you can’t balance you’re more likely to fall,” she says.
“And once you have a fall, then that can spiral into a whole lot of problems.”
For some people, exercises like the trapeze and silks can help engage muscles that aren’t regularly used as you get older.
However, Ms Bouvier warns anyone considering starting circus training to do so with caution.
“Check in with your trusted healthcare professional or physiotherapist before you embark on something like this,” she says.
“And start really, really slowly as this would not be an activity that would be appropriate for many older bodies.”
Ms Wyer says she started very carefully, with the class accommodating all skill levels.
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Many flying friendships
It’s not just physical health benefits the participants gain, but new friendships.
The 50 & Up showcase’s oldest performer Gayleen Rogers has been taking part in the circus arts for 21 years, and has made many “flying friends” along the way.
“The circus community is just so welcoming, supportive, non-judgemental, and there are people from all walks of life,” she says.
“It’s just a great place to be.”
From day one she was hooked on the adrenaline.
“My palms used to sweat in the car on the way over,” she says.
“You know, like, it scared the crap out of me, but I just really loved it.”
Dressed as Sandy from Grease, Ms Rogers performed the doubles trapeze at the showcase to the song Grease Lightnin’, a routine she created 15 years ago.
The best part of trapeze class is it keeps her motivated to exercise, she says.
“I’m doing this with a lot of young people and, of course, I don’t want to let myself go because I kind of want to fit in,” Ms Rogers says.
“It’s helpful in that way.”
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HFA urges targeted trade policies to protect the fitness industry.
This week, HFA submitted comments to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on two important trade policy dockets that could have significant implications for exercise equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and fitness facility operators.
Section 301 Tariff Proceeding
USTR sought comment on proposed tariffs from its Section 301 forced labor investigation, including possible product exclusions based on domestic availability and economic impact.
HFA submitted comments that advocated excluding exercise/rehabilitation equipment and critical components, citing irreplaceable global supply chains and the industry’s role in public health, chronic disease prevention, and military readiness.
US- China Board of Trade
USTR proposed a new Board to identify non-sensitive products for reciprocal tariff reductions with China.
In comments submitted to USTR, HFA recommended designating exercise equipment as “non-sensitive” and eligible for negotiation, prioritizing products that boost US manufacturing and affordability, and setting criteria recognizing public health, productivity, and military readiness benefits.
The HFA thanks member operators, manufacturers, and suppliers whose data strengthened these submissions. Your efforts are helping HFA advocate for trade policy that supports the fitness industry.
Athletes need to think about stamina and endurance all the time. Whether you’re a runner, a basketball player or a swimmer, your ability to push hard and keep going often determines who wins and who comes out on top.
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But endurance and stamina aren’t just important for athletes. They can also affect how easily you tackle everyday activities, like yardwork or helping a friend move.
Exercise physiologist Christopher Travers, MS, explains what sets stamina and endurance apart and how to build up both with a variety of workouts.
How stamina and endurance work together
Stamina and endurance often go hand in hand — but they’re different.
Think of stamina as how hard you can push yourself, and endurance as how long you can maintain that effort.
In car terms, stamina reflects how hard you push on the gas pedal for a quick jump in speed. Endurance reflects how far you can go before running out of fuel.
Together, they help you reach your destination and achieve milestones in your physical performance.
Let’s dig a little bit more into what makes each unique.
What is stamina?
Stamina describes your mental and physical ability to sustain high-intensity effort over a shorter period of time. It’s that quick burst at the starting line, the second-wind sprint you get during the last push of a marathon and the fast acceleration that carries you uphill.
“With stamina, you’re trying to push through at a higher heart rate,” says Travers. “It’s your power, your speed and your repeated burst of effort.”
What is endurance?
Endurance describes your body’s ability to sustain low-to-moderate-intensity activity over very long periods of time. It’s the ability to endure a marathon, miles of cycling and long workout sessions without stopping or decreasing intensity.
“With endurance, you’re learning how to maintain a certain level of intensity for the longest period of time,” says Travers. “You’re focused on your breathing, keeping a steady pace and sticking to correct form so you can go longer without running out of energy.”
How to increase endurance and stamina
Building stamina and endurance involves different approaches to physical fitness. Stamina relies on quick bouts of high-intensity exercises, while endurance is less intense but for longer periods of time.
Working on both simultaneously can improve your performance and make a significant impact on your overall health. Let’s now focus on each one individually.
How to increase stamina
Circuit training is a great way to build stamina because it combines strength and cardio exercises with limited rest. A circuit involves moving through a series of exercises that target different muscle groups with little-to-no break between each one. After completing a circuit, you take a longer recovery before repeating the entire circuit.
“The big thing with stamina workouts is your recovery,” notes Travers. “When you finish an entire circuit made up of several quick exercises, you want a longer recovery so you can come back and do the entire circuit over again at the same high intensity.”
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can also improve stamina. HIIT alternates short bursts of intense exercise with brief recovery periods, training your body to:
- Work hard even when you’re fatigued
- Recover quickly between exercises
- Tolerate higher levels of exertion
- Use oxygen more efficiently
A stamina workout might combine these approaches by using a circuit of high-intensity exercises followed by a longer recovery period before repeating the circuit.
Exercises commonly used in stamina workouts include:
- Hill sprints
- Box jumps
- Stair climbs
- Mountain climbers
- Jump squats
- Burpees
How to build endurance
To build endurance, you’ll need to learn how to maintain a certain level of intensity for longer stretches of time.
“With endurance, we’re going for that longer, steady state and gradually increasing our time and our distances,” explains Travers. “Endurance requires consistency over weeks and even months.”
It helps to focus on workouts that keep your body moving for extended periods. Cardiovascular exercises are especially effective at building endurance. But strength training can be adapted to improve muscular endurance, training your muscles to work longer before they become fatigued.
When working on endurance, you want to increase the amount of time, distance or reps as you progress through your training.
Common exercises for endurance include:
- Cycling
- Running
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Rowing
- Planks
Final note for the miles ahead
Whether your goal is to move faster, exercise longer or simply keep up with the demands of daily life, stamina and endurance can help you get there. Building both takes consistency and practice. But over time, those efforts can pay off in improved performance, better fitness and greater confidence in what your body can do.
“If you train consistently and you’re seeing progress, both your stamina and endurance are improving,” encourages Travers. “It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, practice and attention to your overall health.”
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