Having spent 50 years in the health care industry and established himself as an expert in value-based care, Tom understands the value of prevention. A Kaiser Permanente health plan member, he appreciates how his plan makes additional resources available to support healthy aging as part of its integrated approach to member well-being.

One such resource is Bold, which has become an important part of Tom’s day-to-day routine. An avid walker, Tom thought to give Bold a try when Kaiser sent him a message about Bold being an available benefit, intrigued by its at-home accessibility and focus on the aging population. 

His early days on Bold classes confirmed his first impression: instructors were “approachable and charismatic.” Exercises, including those new to him, were easy to follow. Over time, he has found a welcoming community, with a customizable platform that helps him see progress on his own terms and at his own pace. 

“I found with Bold, you can mold it to the level you want and what you want to work on,” he says. 

A welcoming community 

Tom manages rheumatoid arthritis, and recent weight loss also made him more conscious of changes to his balance and overall strength. He also knows that falls are a leading cause of loss of independence.

Since joining Bold, he has identified “gaps” in his balance from exercises that ask him to stand on one leg or work on his flexibility. “Those were elements of balance that I didn't even know I couldn’t do,” he says. 

What has given him confidence to continue is the expertise Bold’s trainers display in their classes. Tom notes that Bold trainers make an effort to explain why certain movements can provide specific functional benefits, which helps build trust. 

They’re also just plain fun. “The instructors tend to draw you in," Tom says. "It’s really cool — they encourage you during the class."

Building a long-term healthy habit

Tom knows how important staying engaged in exercise is to seeing sustained benefits. While there have been moments where he has fallen out of a regular rhythm with Bold, he highlights the platform’s “nudge” functionality as helping him to recommit when he is ready. He also makes use of Bold’s educational resources to help build his knowledge and self-efficacy. 

Each time Tom returns to Bold, he appreciates the ability to make selections based on how he feels on a given day. Whether it’s making choices based on length of class, types of exercise — “I never thought Tai Chi would be my thing” — or level of difficulty, he finds something to engage in every time.

“The instructors don’t pressure you,” he says. “And there are so many options. Even some that can be done sitting, which is great if you’re working on balance.”

A sense of progress

Since starting Bold, Tom has noticed improvements to his strength and balance as well as his confidence. His advice to others just starting out with Bold is to focus on something you most want to do — or keep doing — and to treat Bold’s classes as a means to break down barriers to that goal.

“I’m getting older,” Tom says, “but you can maintain your quality of life with Bold. You can keep doing things and stay active. And I think that’s very cool.”