Great information and encouragement, Sue! I do yoga every morning for 20 minutes just to remind my Lupus-y body that I can indeed move and stretch and hold a pose and breathe deeply. And then I go for a three-mile walk on the trails near my house, dirt trails, not paved ones. I have tried multiple times to add strength training to my routine--I get bored. But I do get a lot of informal strength training by regularly throwing saddles on horses, digging in my garden, hefting hay bales, using power tools, riding said horses (not just sitting on them, actively using my legs and arms to communicate with them) and so on. So maybe those full-body workouts count. (I hope so!)
Age catches all of us, but doing as this post recommends gives our lives a much healthier quality. Endorphins (if I spelled that right) are produced during excercise--a direct connection to increased potential for happiness.
If any readers of this blog haven't been exercising for a long time, it's okay to start now, even if it feels minimal. Give yourself the grace to slowly up your exercising. And pat yourself on the back for doing so.
You’ve summed this up nicely! I’ve definitely needed to add strengthening and balance routines as I’ve gotten older. Taking up bicycling and xc-skiing in my 60’s has been challenging (and beneficial) as well as fun.
I bought XC gear a few years back and have used it a few times. The last time, I fell and my tail bone hit a rock in such a way that I hurt for weeks. I need to get back on that horse!
Thank you for another informative article! Staying active, flexible and strong is paramount as we age. Your home workout space is perfect, and good for you for turning time with it into a habit. Like you found, I spend most of my activity on cardio, but my daily chores add a hefty (no pun intended!) amount of strength work. That said, I do need to get into the habit of strength training. I appreciate the reminder and links you've provided.
More and more research is noting that strength training is a critical exercise for an aging body. Check out Senior Shape Fitness to see how she incorporates it into many of her routines.
Great information and encouragement, Sue! I do yoga every morning for 20 minutes just to remind my Lupus-y body that I can indeed move and stretch and hold a pose and breathe deeply. And then I go for a three-mile walk on the trails near my house, dirt trails, not paved ones. I have tried multiple times to add strength training to my routine--I get bored. But I do get a lot of informal strength training by regularly throwing saddles on horses, digging in my garden, hefting hay bales, using power tools, riding said horses (not just sitting on them, actively using my legs and arms to communicate with them) and so on. So maybe those full-body workouts count. (I hope so!)
Age catches all of us, but doing as this post recommends gives our lives a much healthier quality. Endorphins (if I spelled that right) are produced during excercise--a direct connection to increased potential for happiness.
If any readers of this blog haven't been exercising for a long time, it's okay to start now, even if it feels minimal. Give yourself the grace to slowly up your exercising. And pat yourself on the back for doing so.
Oh...and it has to be part of your schedule, or you'll never "get around to it."
This is the bottom line about exercise - making it part of our daily routine. If I don't do it by noon, it won't happen!
You’ve summed this up nicely! I’ve definitely needed to add strengthening and balance routines as I’ve gotten older. Taking up bicycling and xc-skiing in my 60’s has been challenging (and beneficial) as well as fun.
I bought XC gear a few years back and have used it a few times. The last time, I fell and my tail bone hit a rock in such a way that I hurt for weeks. I need to get back on that horse!
Thank you for another informative article! Staying active, flexible and strong is paramount as we age. Your home workout space is perfect, and good for you for turning time with it into a habit. Like you found, I spend most of my activity on cardio, but my daily chores add a hefty (no pun intended!) amount of strength work. That said, I do need to get into the habit of strength training. I appreciate the reminder and links you've provided.
More and more research is noting that strength training is a critical exercise for an aging body. Check out Senior Shape Fitness to see how she incorporates it into many of her routines.
I will, thank you!