“Me thinks that the minute my legs begin to move my thoughts begin to flow, as if I had given vent to the stream at the lower end and consequently new fountains flowed into it at the upper.” – Henry David Thoreau
There are many alternatives 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, swimming is a possible alternative and actually should be included for anyone as it is a great conditioning exercise. For women of a certain age, it is very important as it is a weight-bearing exercise, which is recommended for those with osteopenia and osteoporosis; your physician will diagnose those conditions.
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.
Now we come to one of my favorites – dancing! 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!
Those who are mobility challenged can also benefit from chair yoga and similar movement programs. ALWAYS get clearance from your physician first before beginning any exercise regimen.
Some of my readers are aware that I teach a “FlexAbility” class at the Noblesville branch of the Hamilton East Public Library. The past several weeks my class space has been unavailable due to construction, however I will once again offer a three-week session on April 16, 23, and 30 from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at the Noblesville branch. There is no charge for the class, but registration is required through the library at hamiltoneastpl.org.
This class incorporates some yoga movements and other balancing and coordination elements to keep you flexible and healthy and moving forward in a confident way. Included in the class at various times have been a 16-year-old student athlete wishing to gain flexibility for tennis and a 88-year-old who just wishes to stay upright and moving as long as possible.
Whatever your fitness goals, you will benefit from your time in this class. I hope to see you there!
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.