Now that he's 73, Bill Howe's fitness goals are all about real-life application: carrying a 50-pound bag of dog food into the garage; bending over to tie a shoelace. Howe works out to maintain his strength and balance, prevent injury and fully enjoy a range of everyday activities and interests (ballroom dancing chief among them).

"I'm not exercising next to a 22-year-old guy who wants to look like Charles Atlas," he says. "My goal is to make the rest of my life easier and to do normal activities without hurting or straining myself." He credits his twice-weekly visits to Addie's Studio One on One in Pacific Beach with preserving - and enhancing - his active lifestyle.

"Addie designed a program specifically for me, taking into mind some of the limitations that accompany getting older," says Howe, who complements his sessions at Addie's with cardio work on the treadmill and stationary bike. "They've helped me maintain muscle tone, enhance flexibility and keep my weight down. I move around better today than I did 20 years ago."

Addie Merrill and her husband, Tyler, train a number of clients sharing Howe's fitness objectives. "We're not here to bodybuild our older clients," says Addie. "We want to keep them moving - taking the trash out, picking up their grandkids - comfortably. We work a lot on balancing and flexibility to preserve active daily living."

Before they get started with any fitness program, she advises older exercisers to complete a thorough fitness and health assessment. 858-483-2711; addiesstudio.com