“The right way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
Let’s get real and start out with “true confessions” here.
As I confess to being somewhat of a fashionista, I did not adhere to my usual bedtime last night in order to view the parade of formal attire in the latest awards program on television. Therefore, this morning being a little sleep deprived I was reluctant to bound out of the door to make my way to the gym. I nearly talked myself out of it until I stopped talking in order to “begin doing” as Mr. Disney shares with us in his quote this week.
For those of us of any age, but particularly those of us of a “certain age” it is vital that we keep moving – beyond the usual routines of our daily lives. Now, if you are a professional athlete or Olympic hopeful this would not apply to you as your fitness routine is your life. And, since most of us do not fit into that category of humans we must rally those brain cells which will kick that body into gear and move forward!
So let’s look at some suggestions for those of us who need to keep moving, which include all of us in some form or another.
Let’s begin with walking. Are you getting your 10,000 steps in? Of course, the weather is not always perfect but we can work around that, and many of us have treadmills and stationary bikes. Walking is indeed the best exercise available, in my opinion. For those who have walking issues, of course swimming is a possible alternative and actually should be included for nearly anyone as it is a great conditioning exercise.
For women of a certain age it is very important to include weight-bearing exercise, which is recommended for those with osteopenia and osteoporosis; your physician will diagnose those conditions, of course.
Strength training for muscle tone; most of the big box stores carry hand weights and you can work out with these for your biceps, triceps, shoulder and back muscles, and in muscle-toning exercises for the lower body. Many of you have exercise bands which are very easy to include in your routine.
Flexibility is extremely important, whether you are an infrequent exerciser or a conditioned athlete. Always do your stretching and flexible movements before doing any other type of exercise.
And we come to one of my favorites – dancing! Bruce and I love to dance and do so every chance we get from the kitchen to the dance floor! However you can dance whether you have a dance partner or not, turn up your faves (Motown for me) and move it! Not only will your body benefit but your brain as well when those endorphins kick in!
ALWAYS get clearance from your physician first before beginning any exercise regimen.
If you are interested, I will once again begin teaching my FlexAbility class at the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m. This class meets once weekly and is offered at no cost. HEPL does request that you register, and you may do so at hamiltoneastpl.org. This class is appropriate for all ages, genders, and fitness levels. All you need is a mat or large towel.
Sharon McMahon, CNWC
The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to nutrition or fitness activity.