Why Human Connection Matters as Much as Physical Activity

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I was wrapping up my balance and stability class at the senior center and participants were helping me put away equipment and gathering their belongings to leave class. I overheard two recently widowed participants talking and their conversation went something like this:

Sally: “I have to take the car into the shop. You know, Michael used to handle all the car maintenance, and now it’s something I have to do.”

Polly: “I know exactly what you mean. Bob used to take care of the home maintenance, and now I’m figuring out how to find contractors to fix things.”

This brief conversation served as a connection for their shared experience of managing life’s day-to-day responsibilities without a partner. They were navigating a new chapter of life and finding someone who truly understood.

That moment of connection may have been the most important part of the class for their overall well-being. Knowing they weren’t alone in their struggles I believe, had a greater positive impact on their health than the physical exercises we just completed.

This experience reaffirmed why I love leading group activities: they cultivate human connection. One of the simplest yet most impactful things we can do is create space and time for connection before and after class. If participants are engaged in a lively conversation before class, I don’t rush to start on time, instead, I let them continue or incorporate their chat into our warm-up. I intentionally avoid scheduling another class immediately afterward, allowing participants to linger, ask questions, or simply connect. These moments of connection are meaningful. To truly enhance our participants’ health and well-being, we must allow for both social connection and physical activity, and recognize the health benefits that come from integrating the two.