'I want them to live longer;' Silverfox Fitness helps older adults stay active

A serious life event over 30 years ago changed the way Cambridge resident Rob Fox looked at wellness.

Attempting to reduce stress levels for himself and his wife, he began to look into the benefits of healthy eating and active living.

A teacher by trade, Fox would then receive more health news that made him question his previous habits.

"I had to have a physical when I went from one school board to another and my doctor said I had high blood pressure," Fox said.

"He gave me pills but I asked what I can do instead of taking them. There's another reason I have to exercise and eat right. I came in and joined the YMCA when I was 30."

Now retired and with a daughter who runs the gym Human 2.0 in Ottawa and a son with a background in business, Fox began thinking about what he was going to do with all his free time.

The answer? Combine his passion for teaching with his love of fitness by obtaining certification through the YMCA to instruct classes.

And that's how Silverfox Fitness has come to be.

For the last 25 years, Fox has been sharing what he's learned with older adults at the YMCA on Hespeler Road and Trillium United Church in Preston through free workout classes.

Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, he had to pivot and find a different way to reach people.

With the help of his grandchildren, Fox created and runs a YouTube channel that has amassed over 6,700 subscribers and a Facebook group called Silverfox Fitness - Exercises for Seniors & Beginners with over 31,600 members.

"I started making videos of exercises," Fox said.

"I thought I'm just going to make exercises for seniors. I can relate to them and my wife and I have a lot of friends. I made YouTube videos of what I was going to teach."

While Fox is trained and has the certifications to run his program, he likes to take his own individual approach to wellness.

Every class begins with a warm up, followed by balance work, resistance training, aerobics, stretching and then meditation. Mixed in throughout are discussions about eating habits and managing stress.

"Research is a big deal for me, I'm researching things all day long, every day," Fox said of his preparation.

"I learned as I got older it's not about attending the classes, checking the boxes and teaching a certain way that's going to make people healthy. They have to learn that it's a part of their life. You eat right, you manage stress and you exercise always. Always, everywhere."

When someone walks into one of his classes, whether it be for the first time or as a regular, Fox has one simple goal he strives to achieve.

"I want them to live longer and I want them to be happier," he said.

"That's all there is to it."

Anyone interested in learning more about his classes can contact [email protected].