Forget about body builders and the rippling muscles of men and women who hit the gym seven days a week. The Arnold Active Aging Festival, part of the world-famous Arnold Sports Festival, is simply about being able to live the life that you want to lead.

Nearly one thousand baby boomers and beyond will come to Columbus on March 6 for the event, which is held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom adjacent to the festival’s other activities at the Columbus Convention Center. The Active Aging Festival, which stresses both physical and financial fitness, aims to free people from the grasp of inactivity, an unfortunate but certainly not inevitable aspect of aging.

The festival promotes fitness not as an outcome, but as something that allows individuals to lead fulfilling lives well into their golden years. In surveying why people in this age group want to be fit, research has found that it’s quite different for everyone — for some it’s as simple as being able to play with their grandchildren.

“I think (the festival) serves as a very important opportunity for seniors to learn that just because they’re older doesn't mean they can’t be physically fit and active,” says Barbara Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. “The emphasis here is no longer about looking like a model. It’s OK — and expected — not to get to that state. Fitness is still important.”

Taking its own message to heart, the festival will focus primarily on interaction this year. Although experts will be on hand to lend advice, “No one will be forced to just sit and listen,” says Mike Lorz of Lorz Communications. “People don’t come simply for the education — they can get that in many places. They come for active participation.”

The day will consist of a “tell-show-do” approach, with a short presentation, a teacher demonstration and then audience participation. Activities include ballroom dancing, yoga and race walking, and the emphasis will be on practicing what has been learned right away.

As it ages, the body’s greatest enemy is inactivity. Quite simply, if you quit doing something, eventually you won’t be able to do it all. For those concerned with leading an active life in the years to come, the festival is an ideal place to find the motivation to get up and get going every day.

“We (baby boomers) come at life with an assumption that we will be capable and involved into old age, and then we learn that we can’t do this without concentrating on our physical activity,” Riley says. “Get moving! Prevention is mighty important.”

In addition to fitness-focused activities, nutritional information and financial advice will be available at the festival. Group packages have also been developed, and include admission to same-day events at the Arnold Sports Festival, curbside drop-off at the hotel and more. For additional information on these packages, call 614/433-1877. Visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com for festival schedules.