Desert Fitness Collective, a Seniors-Only Gym, Helps Trainees 'Maintain Independence'

Ema Sasic
Palm Springs Desert Sun

At Desert Fitness Collective in Palm Desert, you won't find the typical "gym bros" yelling about chest or leg day. Instead, you'll come across a group of fit seniors who move, groove and can most likely kick your butt at a few exercises.

Their ages range from 60 to 83, but don't be so quick to count them out. Under Founder Cheryl Cohen's guidance, these fitness fanatics go through a series of warmup exercises before they dive into more intense workout reps, such as farmer's carry with kettlebells, sit ups, burpee modifications with lifting weights and more. And they do it in style, too — many could be spotted wearing shirts that say "Train to not suck at life" and "Still kicking ass" during a recent visit to the gym.

"It gives people their physical freedom," Cohen said, admiring the group of 11 people working out.

After opening up the first CrossFit affiliate in the Coachella Valley in 2007 (named Desert CrossFit at the time), which welcomed people of all fitness levels, Cohen decided to rebrand and focus on the senior population. Her goal was to create a more personalized gym experience, not just a one-size-fits-all option, for people 60 and older, which includes modifications if they have mobility issues or other limitations.

The results have been rewarding and heartwarming — some shared they're able to play with their grandchildren more, get up easier and feel stronger as the weeks go by.

"There’s no ego," Cohen said of her trainees. "The reason they’re here is so pure: They just want to maintain independence and improve quality of life."

'A totally different training experience'

Cohen didn't get into working out until she sustained an ACL injury from dance and had to start rehabilitation. From then on, she became an avid workout enthusiast. She eventually found her passion in leading and guiding others on their exercise journeys, which later led to opening Desert CrossFit in the Coachella Valley.

Early on, Cohen knew she wanted to work with seniors, but she only had about two or three older clients and didn't know how to grow those clientele numbers. At the same time, as more and more gyms began popping up in the area, each was "fishing from the same pond" and seeking 20- to 50-year-old fit clients, she said.

Cohen later joined a business coaching group, where she was encouraged to specialize and cater toward an older population. She "stopped putting effort into the all-levels" group and started advertising just for those 60 and older, and within the last few months, Desert Fitness Collective has put all its focus on those clients.

"It's a totally different training experience, and they definitely don't teach this," Cohen said. "Even though CrossFit does have some kind of course for training older athletes, the older athletes are people who are fully functional, and I get people that have orthopedic stuff."

No weaklings here

During two recent visits to Desert Fitness Collective in November, two workout groups were tasked with their usual warmup challenges, which included walking on a ground-level balance beam, doing ladder shuffles, utilizing resistance bands for bridges and hamstring stretches and more. Many of the exercises focus on improving balance/fall prevention, flexibility and building endurance. These tasks might look easy on first glance, but when this Desert Sun reporter gave them a try herself, her legs and hips immediately felt the burn.

As people made their way through each one, Cohen helped those with limitations find a different way to approach an exercise. Sandra Pheil, who has trouble getting up from the floor, completed her exercises on mats raised off the ground. Another woman was experiencing shoulder pain, which prevented her from doing an overhead movement. Cohen instructed her to focus on using her elbows instead.

Next came the true challenge: Completing five reps of four different exercises, with weights, for one minute each. It's a tough task for anyone to handle — this reporter found herself breathing heavily and knowing every muscle in her body would hurt the next day. Even as some wanted to give up, Cohen pushed them to keep going, even if it was only for a few seconds and not a full minute.

Kitty Dodge, 68, has gone through many health challenges the last two decades. In 2001, she underwent a gastric bypass surgery for weight loss, but struggled with malabsorption in the years since. Additionally, she began feeling weak in her legs, and sometimes couldn't step up on a curb.

After she moved to the desert in 2020, she kept seeing Desert Fitness Collective advertised to her, and she decided to give it a shot in December 2021. Since then, "my whole attitude changed," Dodge said. In a recent class, she effortlessly completed forward and backward leg circles, which require quite a bit of endurance, and squats.

"I don't want to go into my 70s weak," Dodge said. "It's about getting strong for me," adding that she's also lost 34 pounds in the process.

Similarly, Lorna Curtis, 66, had trouble with her knees and arthritis, making it hard to play with her grandchild. Now, she said she's the go-to person to do the heavy lifting in her family.

Before people can get started, Cohen has prospective members come in for a one-on-one session so she can see how they handle a workout and what modifications they might need. New members start with a 12-week Physical Freedom Program, which includes a one-week trial.

John Slater, 75, is about two-thirds of the way through his program and felt "great" after his workout one Thursday. He was doing yoga for about seven years and was looking for more strength and weight control opportunities when he and his friend came across Desert Fitness Collective.

When he had a recent fall after tripping on a sidewalk, Slater was able to "pop back up" without any injuries. He also said he's in "so much better shape" and will continue with the gym after his 12 weeks are up.

"I've got to, I'm not getting any younger," he said.

Forming a family

It's not all just about the physical work and gains at Cohen's gym. Friendships and personal conections have been made along the way that make working out a little less painful.

For Cohen, in particular, she's found a deeper connection with her group of seniors.

About four years ago, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of 13 heritable connective tissue disorders which include joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and tissue fragility. Similar to the seniors she trains, she's had to make adjustments in her workouts, and she believes it's the reason why it's led to so much trust between her and her groups.

"A lot of the challenges I face, they face, and because I've had to work around my own stuff, it just comes naturally. I tell them there's nothing you can throw my way that I can't work around," Cohen said. "Honestly, me having EDS is usually what seals the deal because if someone were to look at me, they wouldn't know that there was anything wrong, but when I explain the condition, they feel safe."

These gym buddies have formed a little family of their own over the last few months and do quite a lot together. On Cohen's birthday in November, people donned red wigs, brought her a birthday sash to wear and took her out to dinner. But, like any family, her pals aren't afraid to be a little spunky when she pushes their buttons.

"But these are heavy!" one woman exclaimed when Cohen encouraged everyone to pick up heavier kettlebells, and plenty of laughs ensued.

Deborah Dilley, 71, was seeking a way to get stronger so that she could continue to pick up her grandchild when she came across Desert Fitness Collective. She wasn't sure if she would stick with the program, but getting to know Cohen and her challenges made her take the leap of faith.

"Cheryl is very unique. She has her own physical challenges that she's open about, so when you have something that I do (Ménière's disease), it makes you feel like she understands the extra challenge, but she also makes you understand that's no excuse," Dilley said.

Many of Cohen's slogans stay in Dilley's mind when she's working out: "You have to hold yourself accountable," "The only negative voice in the room is your own," "You're way better than you think you are," and "You can do this."

"She's like a drill sergeant that you love, but there's none of the negatives in it," Dilley said. "She's like the mother that believes in you and pushes you."

Candy Warner, 78, has been working out at the gym for more than two months. Aside from strengthening her core, it's been a place where she gets to meet new people. At the end of one session, she and a workout buddy exchanged phone numbers so they could get together for dinner.

This family also celebrates big and small wins, and they're all over Desert Fitness Collective's social media pages. In Cohen's advanced morning classes, one woman was able to climb a rope to the top of the ceiling without breaking a sweat. On another day, Pheil was able to stand up and down without needing assistance.

"There are miracles that are taking place here on a daily basis," Cohen said. "I hate the idea of people thinking, 'I'm too old, I'm giving up, it's too late.' It's not."

To learn more about Desert Fitness Collective, visit https://desertfitnesscollective.com/

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

Read the original article in the Desert Sun HERE.