SAN DIEGO, Jan. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Silver&Fit® Exercise and Healthy Aging Program, one of the nation's leading health and fitness programs for Medicare Advantage members, will showcase its national fitness facility network and instructor opportunities at the second annual Zumba® Instructor Conference in Los Angeles on January 31-February 2. Instructors interested in Silver&Fit opportunities can learn more about the program at Session Room 501ABC. To hear what other instructors think about the Silver&Fit program, view the Silver&Fit YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPjjE5IIvc&feature=youtu.be.
Silver&Fit contracts with more than 10,000 fitness facilities nationwide and offers instructors session reimbursements, free training for the Silver&Fit Signature Classes and a broad range of features that can attract older members to fitness and exercise facilities. The program provides Medicare Advantage members with no cost and low cost fitness memberships, healthy aging activities, and access to fitness classes especially tailored for older adults, such as Zumba Gold®, Zumba® Gold Toning, Aqua Zumba® as well as many other options.
The Zumba® Instructor Conference, which attracted more than 3,000 fitness instructors in its inaugural year in 2013, will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and will offer Learning Capsules, certifications, exercise demonstrations and an array of exciting presenters.
"Instructors who want to attract new members to their fitness facilities are finding that our specially tailored classes are a key to bringing in the 65 plus member," said Silver&Fit Fitness Network Management Vice President Brett Hanson. "A growing number of older adults want to improve their quality of life through exercise and are seeking out exhilarating, upbeat exercise classes like those offered by Silver&Fit and Zumba. Our classes truly engage members with their joyful music and easy-to-follow moves.
"We invite fitness instructors to drop by our session room for information about opportunities with our comprehensive network of fitness facilities and our expanding program of classes," Hanson added.
In a survey of nearly 2,000 randomly selected Silver&Fit members, respondents reported that they were in better health than they had been the previous year, and had increased activity levels and reduced health care utilization. Also, fewer Silver&Fit members had difficulties with the activities of daily living compared to national benchmarks.*
Instructors who would like more information about teaching the Silver&Fit program can contact Penny Bailey at PennyB@ashn.com or visit Silver&Fit at Session Room 501ABC at the Zumba® Conference.
About the Silver&Fit Exercise & Healthy Aging Program
The Silver&Fit program is an exercise and healthy aging program providing unique, evidence-based fitness, health education and healthy group activities for Medicare beneficiaries and group retirees. Founded in 2005, the program serves more than 1.6 million eligible members and provides low cost or no cost access to more than 10,000 participating fitness facilities nationwide. Members unable to participate at a fitness facility or who prefer to work out at home have access to the Silver&Fit Home Fitness Program. Membership also includes access to: SilverandFit.com, The Silver Slate® newsletter, and a toll-free customer service hotline. Follow Silver&Fit on Twitter @SilverandFit, Instagram @SilverandFit, YouTube at www.youtube.com/silverandfit, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SilverandFit. The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH).
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier independent and privately-owned specialty health services organizations, providing specialty health care networks and programs, fitness and exercise programs and population health solutions for health plans, insurance carriers and employer groups. Operating from offices in San Diego, CA, Southlake (Dallas), TX, Carmel (Indianapolis), IN and Columbia, SC, ASH has more than 1,100 employees and administers services for nearly 34 million members nationwide. Additional products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Healthyroads®, FitnessCoach™, Active&Fit®, ExerciseRewardsTM and others. For information, visit www.ashcompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter at @ASHCompanies.
*Results were compared to national benchmark data points from the 2009 National Health Information Survey (NHIS) conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the State of Aging and Health in America (SAHA) report, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), as well as baseline data from the same 2009 survey. As compared to the national benchmark populations, the Silver&Fit population is slightly older, averaging 72 years.