Silver Sneakers is a great benefit available to many seniors through their Medicare insurer. It gives you free membership at a large number of gyms nationwide. For a list of those near you: Silver Sneakers.
Most gyms that participate in the program have special exercise classes for Silver Sneakers, but you’re not restricted to them. Both gyms I checked out offered full membership privileges, so Silver Sneakers saved me several hundred dollars a year. If you go to the Silver Sneakers classes, no matter how fit or unfit you are, there are sure to be people like you.
A great thing about gyms that I discovered after I retired is that classes held during working hours have many more older people and are generally relaxed and friendly. So if you’ve been intimidated by gyms in the past, you might feel more comfortable now. Also, many gyms that accept Silver Sneakers are associated with YMCAs, community centers, and other venues where the atmosphere isn’t quite as testosterone-driven (sorry guys) as in some gyms.