exercise Rosiemadeathing

Rosie Made a Thing

Exercise is good for everyone, especially older people. In Florida, a fitness professional visited a nursing home and started them on a gentle weight-training workout. Some were frightened it may kill them off. In fact all got fitter quickly, some no longer needed walking sticks, and one patient returned home!

Low-impact workouts are best, just build up slowly. Strength-training is great to build muscle, which also helps to protect your bones from breaking, if you fall. And as muscle burns calories, it helps you to stay trim as you age, which can prevent other illnesses.

Talk to a qualified teacher if pregnant or for medical conditions. Avoid inversions (like for yoga) for eye and heart problems.

Another bonus of exercise is that it releases endorphins, which can help to prevent depression. Even consider becoming a volunteer dog walker!

Chair exercises are great, if you need to feel safe. Even sitting down, doing exercises to improve your strength like ‘street marching’, arm circles and leg extensions is better than nothing. Swimming is also good, as the water reduces strain on the joints, making it perfect for seniors.

Chair Pilates and Yoga is a book for older people, by an instructor who has her own studio in Buckinghamshire. These guided movements can help to improve flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, posture and breathing, and can help to reduce aches and pains.

This jute & natural rubber yoga mat is lightweight for travel, made from nontoxic materials, gives good grip in postures, yet is cushioned enough to protect your joints. Many yoga mats are made from PVC that makes you sweat when you do poses. Not for latex allergies.

Strength Training Can Help You Stay Fit

move it or lose it

Often there is not a lot to learn from the USA, as the country seems to becoming increasingly crazy. But if you look at people in their 70s and 80s over there, pensioners in Florida are power-walking  and working out with weights three times a week. While in England, ‘old people’ are shoved into nursing homes to sit in circles, with their muscles and brains going weak, from lack of use.

Move It or Lose It offers classes nationwide for people of any age, all run by qualified trainers. If you prefer to work out at home, the site sells good books and DVDs (including chair workouts) and resistance bands (lighter than weights, which should be kept away from children and pets).

If you like to workout online, Lucy Wyndham-Read and Joe Wicks (a bit more shouty!) have excellent safe videos, by qualified personal trainers.

Also ask your GP, as some prescribe discounted memberships at gyms, where qualified trainers will gradually help you to build up fitness.

This American site shows results of clients over pension age, who have transformed, simply through safe strength training. One woman shed almost 2 stones and 10 inches simply through exercise. Others have regained bone density, reduced pain and one woman even lost 70 pounds (around 5 stone).

Walk Like a Penguin!

If you’re older especially, you may at risk of falls. Try to ‘walk like a penguin’, especially in icy weather.

  • Slightly bend your knees and point feet out.
  • Walk in short steps and shuffle, on the flats.
  • Lean slightly forward, put arms out for balance.
  • Keep hands out of your pockets.

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