What is meant by the term ‘seniors’? Apparently it is anyone of retirement age or over. These days it is very hard to generalise, not all seniors are little grey haired frail grandmas and granddads. Thinking about it someone who is sixty now was only thirty during the swinging 60s and that means that they ‘rocked’ to some of the greats like the Rolling Stones.
It is not impossible that you are 25 years old and working out at your local gym, you start chatting to the person on the treadmill, exercise bike or rowing machine next to you. They are three times your age and not only that they could well be a great deal fitter as they have the time to exercise constructively.
Age no longer excludes anyone from being fit and healthy. Karl Knopf, a lecturer in Gerontology at a West Coast American university believes that human beings are genetically programmed to live to around 120 years but that we live lifestyles that encourage degenerative conditions. He also believes that we erroneously tag these degenerative conditions as ones of old age. Kenny Moore, an Olympic marathon runner said, ‘you don’t stop exercising because you grow old. You grow old because you stop exercising’.
Studies have shown that physical fitness is a key to both the mental and physical health of older adults, and by maintenance of a high level of physical and social activity the quality of life is greater.
On Waiheke Island, where I live, we have a very comprehensive selection of ways to get fit and keep fit. We have walkways with wonderful views, beaches for walking, running and swimming, we have excellent gyms to work out in and a huge array of exercise classes all over the island offering yoga, dance, keep fit and from what I see we have wonderful ‘seniors’ who take advantage of all these things.
The benefits of exercising as we grow older include more energy to perform daily routines easily; increased muscle tone and flexibility which improves balance and in turn decreases the likelihood of falls; helps maintain good posture which decreases backache; cardio-respiratory (heart and lungs) function is enhanced which improves circulation decreasing the risk of atheriosclerosis, high blood pressure and other circulatory problems. In other words ‘use it or lose it’.
If you have ‘lost it’ it doesn’t have to be forever. You can be fit again, water is an ideal medium in which to safely improve flexibility and raise fitness levels.
In my column I will show you how you can regain mobility and maintain your fitness levels, all you need to do is find a pool to exercise in and better still have friends come and work out with you.
Jenness - 15 years ago
gee-bee, I will certainly be including specific exercises for arthritis sufferers, explaining why movement is crucial to stimulate the secretion of synovial fluid, so important in lubricating those creaky old joints. That ‘use it or loose it’ principle. You will be able to do most of the exercises I will give with a few modifications which I will mention in brackets. One thing to remember, don’t push to the limit, go as far as is comfortable and each time you will notice it is easier to go a little further. Water is the ideal exercise medium for arthritis sufferers but always check first with your doctor.