JointheSeniorSurgeinPhysicalFitnessJune11,2010,U.S.NewsWeeklySeniorsaresweatingalotofthingsthesedays,butinatleastonecase,thisisagoodthing.Peopleintheir60sand70saredemandingmuchhigherlevelsofphysicalfitnessfacilitiesandprograms.Atneighborhoodgymsandretirementcommunitiesacrossthecountry,apronouncedfitnessandwellnesstrendismakingitselffelt.Thephysicalandmentalbenefitsofvigorousexercisehavebecomeincreasinglyclearinrecentyears.Sohasthelinkagewithfitnessanddiet.Lastly,thesocialbenefitsoffitnessandwellnessclassesarebeingrecognizedasapowerfulbenefitaswellasamarketingtooltogetseniorsintopoolsandontotreadmills,bikes,andcrosstrainers."Theexpectationsofourcustomersaremuchhigher,andtheyaremuchbetterinformed,"saysDeborahBlake,directorofcreativecontentforDelWebbretirementcommunities,whichcaterstopeopleaged55andolder(theaverageageofresidentsis62).DelWebbopenedwhatitbillsasthenation'sfirsttrueretirementcommunity50yearsago--SunCityinPhoenix,Ariz.Today,peoplecanbuyhomesin57DelWebbcommunities.Webbprovidesmanycentralizedservices,includingrecreationandfitness."Thefocalpointofthecommunityisthelifestyle,butakeypartoftheprogramtodayisthefitnessfacility,"Blakesays.Imagesofpeopleloungingaroundaswimmingpoolhavelongceasedtobeaccurate."Thekidneyshapedpoolisnotgoingtogetitdoneanymore,"shenotes."Ourpoolsneedtohaveswimminglanes,andoftenhavewalkingtracksthatgoagainsttheflowofthewatersowecanhelppeoplerehabilitatefromkneeinjuries"andotherproblems.Thephysicaldimensionsoffitnesscentersaregettingbiggerandsoaretheofferings."Freeweightsarebecomingabiggerneed,"Blakesays."Andwhilewealwayshavehadfitnessassistance,we'renowprovidingpersonaltraining."Yoga,meditation,wellness,andnutritionalcourseshaveexpanded."Wearedefinitelytakingitupanotch,"shesays.Residentsare"increasinglyinformedonwhatisavailableoutthereandonhowtogetthemostoutofthefitnessprogram."Notsurprisingly,Blakeadds,sheisseeingmuchlongerlifespansamongcommunityresidents,whowanttobephysicallyandmentallyactiveaslongastheycan."They'refocusedontheirmindand