How to get older people to my fitness classes

Well done.
I have no advice as to how you attract the age groups your aiming for except I wouldn't use the phrase "eldely people" in your advertising.
Just had a thought could you do a public demo so people can see what it involves.

Community hubs are key, doctors surgeries, drop in centres, libraries restaurants known for their pensioners lunches.Sheltered housing complexes, indoor bowls, church luncheon clubs.
I work as a market researcher and often have to find people of a certain age and demographic.
One over 60 lunch club provided me with about 20 participants for a project.
I find going out it and speaking to people is the secret.
Public libraries offer free computer lessons for older people, this was a great source for me as people that want to learn are usually very receptive.
Good luck.

Advertise in places where older people are likely to visit such as GP surgery and library - then go into those places and do a free demo/taster class. My local library did this recently.

offer free tea and coffee and a bourbon.

I am 75. I do Tai Chi and Pilates. The Tai Chi is subsidised by some local health initiative and was advertised in the parish magazine and on notice boards around the village and takes place in the village hall.

The pilates I sought out for myself, because I have poor balance (always have had) and I thought it would help.

I have never heard of hooping, do not know what it involves and I think most older people would immediately connect it with hula hoops and decide that they were not fit enough or agile to do it.

I suggest you talk to your local branch of Age UK, they run activity classes for older people and might be able to help you. Could you contact local social groups for retired people, we have a Darby & Joan club in our village and Women's Institutes and offer a (free) talk and demonstration, possibly using members of your audience to demonstrate it with you or give it a try.

Oh, what about seeing if the local press will do an article about what you are doing

You will do well taking armchair exercise into homes for the elderly. Those who can only sit are often forgotten

grannyactivist your photo shows exactly what I was trying to do this morning! Most unsuccessfully I should add.

I think hooping sounds most interesting now I've looked it up - but I had assumed that you just tried swirling the hula hoop around for an hour which does sound boring and not feasible.

Yes, a demonstration or pictures of people doing it in the advert might be a good idea Carole.

Speaking for myself and other retired people who may have families, the weekend is not always a good time for classes. Can you do a weekday evening if not a daytime class?

I recently looked for a new trainer. I would not have wanted to go on a Sunday...I have all week for activities and Sundays tend to be days for family meet ups or outings. More older people i.e. over 60 still tend to look on Sundays as a day or rest or even religion in my personal experience. Although I am 'older' I do not want anything that is exclusively for older people as I find mixing with all ages a lot more stimulating and forward looking.
In the end I went with a trainer who showed real all round expertise and I go on a weekday in early afternoon as that's my peek performance time, although that might just be me.

I too think that 'Sundays' may be part of the problem. I still have quite a fixed idea as to what should happen on certain days of the week and Sundays is family day, maybe a walk, and sometimes a catch up on sewing. It is not a day for exercise classes!
Please don't think this is a criticism - if anything it's a criticism of my rather rigid thinking! But I suspect others may think this too - and from a practical point of view, even if I got over my attitude, I would then think 'but i don't want to sign up for anything that would get in the way of seeing family at weekends'!
It would seem that you have run against this attitude more than the idea that isolated people might prefer Sundays. But I do think that 'taster' sessions might help as granny activist said.

I must confess I would not sign up for a Sunday class. Despite all the news about lonely older people. there are still a lot who are busy with family and friends at weekends, going for weekends away.

I must confess that with me old habits die hard. A Sunday at home with nothing else happening, becomes a total relaxation day.

Yes, having read the comments about Sunday classes I'm afraid I'm in agreement. For people who may be very lonely during the week the weekends are when most are visited by friends and family.

Yep Sunday schedule is probably a big part of your problem to recruit. I think the kind of people who can still go out for execise classes (often driving) are often not the ones who are lonely. Sunday for me is time to go to church, family and relaxing.
We have a local magazine/paper where you can see activities advertised.

I, like Jalima did not understand hooping and on that basis alone I would not have gone.

I agree, Sunday may well be a problem, I have no family but I like a Sunday to myself and it is one day I may go out for lunch with friends.

I like to mix the ages and also not necessarily go to a same-sex meet.

Thank you for all your replies. I take on board the Sunday problem but at the moment I can’t do the week because I work full time. The ‘hooping’ is actually ‘Hoopercise®️‘ which is a fun exercise routine with hula hoops. I have a lot of younger people who come but would appreciate people in their fifties like me to join in?. I would never use the word ‘elderly’ in my ads! I’ll go to some sheltered housing complexes as well as other local groups and see if I persuade people to come along. Thanks again xx

I would be careful with the hoop exercise because somebody could dislocate a hip replacement if hula hooping as I remember it. I have had bilateral knee replacements and I could not /should not do that either.

People in their fifties are young, aren't they!?

Pass on your information to Age UK, GPs, library, you could put posters in Charity shops I guess, you could do leaflet drops around your area, perhaps the council may be interested and social services.
I'm 74 and usually as people get older they may have health issues which clearly you would need to have an understanding of to offer advice.
I do three classes a week Body Flow, Yoga and Pilates and tag onto these weights and walk once a week with a walking group. I also have health issues and there are classes that are unsuitable for me, just something to bare in mind.

A friend of mine used to run Zumba Gold classes and she frequently did mini 'shows' in the market place and at most public events like fetes etc to find new members and it worked very well. My husband does several sessions per summer in the market place to get new members for his indoor bowls club - always gets new people every time he does it.

May I add advertising in any knit and natter (stitch and bitch ) groups

If you want older people then you must advertise that the classes are only for 60+ and ask to see proof eg driving licence, passport, bus pass, etc.,

I go to yoga and pilates but I'm afraid I also would be put off by both Sunday and hoops!
Pilates was suggested by an NHS physio to improve inner body strength and core muscles. When I told my teacher that she was very pleased and it has helped me.
So yes try to get doctors to recommend it. Feel younger, fitter, and enjoy life more etc