Health Promotion Agreement with Hress for 65+

The aim is to make participants self-sufficient in their own health promotion.

The City of Hafnarfjörður and the Hress health club have signed and sealed an agreement on health promotion for the 65-year-old and older residents of Hafnarfjörður. The health promotion is aimed at measurably improving strength, endurance, body mechanics and flexibility. The agreement was signed at Hress in the early morning by Linda Hilmarsdóttir and the Mayor, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, in the presence of cheerful women on their way to a class with Linda. The agreement is valid from 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2026.

Guðlaug Ósk Gísladóttir, Director of the Department of Family and Child Affairs; Linda Hilmarsdóttir, co-owner of Hress; and Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor.

„Hress is a well-established Hafnarfjörður centre with a very large group of loyal customers. People are drawn to the warmth and the wide range of classes available for all age groups, from morning until evening.“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, the mayor. Their increased focus on the well-being and health promotion of older members is commendable and something the municipality proudly supports, as it aligns with the goals of the Healthy City of Hafnarfjörður to promote the public health of people of all ages.“

Success assessed by health measurements

The contract is for two years and includes the Hress programme, which provides access to Hress fitness with coaching advice, personalised training, and guidance from strength and conditioning coaches, strength training twice a week and endurance training once a week in the gym or in group classes, health-related education, health assessments every six months and advice from physiotherapists, as well as access to a variety of group classes. Participants are residents, aged 65 and over, with their registered address in Hafnarfjörður. The aim is that during these two years, participants will become self-sufficient in managing their own health and well-being, and can thus continue to do so on their own terms thereafter. There will then be the option to receive further training at Hress without collaboration with the City of Hafnarfjörður. Participants' progress will be assessed using health measurements, at the start of their participation and then every six months.

Professionalism, health promotion and social support

Hress health club has been operating in Hafnarfjörður since 1987 and has been involved in promoting public health for people of all ages longer than any other company in the town. Professionalism, health promotion and social support are what Hress stands for, along with easing the everyday with various events. The Hress Games are a good example, where nearly three hundred members get active to support a good cause each year. Hress Physiotherapy began its operations in 2023, and their professional expertise will contribute to the project.

Hress website