The thought of exercise may feel overwhelming to some. But exercise can be about making small changes in your physical activity. Think of exercise as moving. Being more active can help you get stronger mentally and physically, improve your balance, boost your energy and lower your risk of several health issues. The key is to be consistent and make it part of your lifestyle.
Pickleball is growing fast among fun-loving athletes and non-athletes alike. The paddle-and-ball game has become especially attractive to baby boomers and former tennis players. There is less acreage to cover for aging legs and the ball moves slower than in a typical tennis match.
How did I get to be 65 and retired? And what happens now? Those were two questions I was asking myself this past April as my birthday and retirement occurred without much fanfare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, I had been planning this for over five years. So, let’s go back a few years…
As we get older, more than a few seniors have seen their body change into a shape they had hoped it never would. I was hoping mine would actually shrink, but of course that didn’t happen. After working a high stress job, gaining 25 pounds and losing lots of sleep, I decided to get off that roller coaster. I’m now semi-retired. Fortunately for me, I am rarely sick and do not take any medication. So, I’m healthy despite weighing more than I should.
According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, chronic heart disease factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity can quicken the pace of cognitive decline.
High blood pressure and diabetes can accelerate shrinkage of the brain, especially affecting the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus. When combined with other cardio risk factors, the rate at which cognitive decline advances, leading to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Last month, we emphasized the importance of exercise to combat the natural aging process. Specifically, exercises like Pilates, Tai Chi and Yoga provide coordinated full body workouts with an emphasis on core muscle strengthening, balance and fluidness of movements. But what if you have pain in your knees or back making even simple movements like walking difficult?
Growing older is inevitable but the rapid physical deterioration we call “aging” does not have to be. In fact, the aging process can be slowed down or in some cases reversed with a consistent exercise program. Numerous studies show adults who make regular exercise a part of their lifestyle are biologically younger by almost 10 years than those who do not exercise.
The greatest party has arrived here in Hawai‘i. The Zumba® Fitness craze is exploding in popularity across the Islands. The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms with easy-to-follow moves for all ages, shapes and sizes. This one-of-a-kind fitness program aims to get you hooked and make you want to workout.
Aging is inevitable; it is a process of growing old. However, it should not influence an individual’s life expectancy. We are able to live long and healthy lives if we live a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating right, and for some, taking medications as prescribed by a health care provider. “Healthy aging” helps us take control of a natural part of life.
The objective at Club 50 Fitness is simple and direct: to improve the lives of people who are 40 years of age and above with fitness training and overall good health. As many Club 50 members will tell you, exercise is medicine! Just ask Rose, who says that exercise has been the best thing for her mentally and physically. “The days I’m tired or stressed, I have learned to let it go with exercising. I feel so much better after I leave,” she says. “I have maintained my weight for four years by just exercising. Everyone here is friendly, including the staff.”
Exercise is the closest thing to a complete remedy — a panacea — for heart disease. The heart fuels the entire body. If the heart gets too weak, it cannot sufficiently provide nutrients to organs and the body slowly deteriorates. Unfortunately, this is quite common for people in hospice care. Thankfully, prevention is readily available.
The Walk and Run Club, powered by Phiten Hawaii, a health and performance product retailer, is a co-sponsor of the nonprofit Hawaii Running Project, a new, free activity for seniors and their families. Walkers and joggers are encouraged to join the healthy fun that starts every Wednesday morning at 9 am. Fun, fitness and camaraderie are open to everyone!
Is more exercise on your list this year? Was it on last year and the previous years’ as well? Don’t feel bad — exercise holds the No. 1 spot in U.S. surveys as a resolution to be made and broken. So how can you make this year’s intention a success?
Golf is a popular sports activity. Unlike most sports, it can be played throughout the golden years, if you can stay in shape and avoid injury. The American Physical Therapy Association says that older golfers often forget that while their passion for the game remains high, their bodies have aged. As we age, we lose flexibility, muscle mass and strength. Because the golf swing’s extreme bending and twisting movements are not natural for the body, senior golfers are at a greater risk of injury.
Walk into any gym and you will see it full of baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964. The oldest of the baby boomer generation is now 73 and the youngest is 55. But age alone does not define the actual physical condition of a person. There are two ways to age as defined by the Functional Aging Institute:1) Primary Aging and 2) Secondary Aging.
Weekend warriors often develop shoulder discomfort when performing overhead movements while playing tennis, baseball or tackling DIY projects around the house. The longer you suffer, the more damage can occur. Here are simple tips to relieve some symptoms:
Many of us sit for hours at a desk at work and on the couch at home. Our jobs and activities have been trending toward a more sedentary lifestyle. And regular exercise might not be enough to reverse the damage. Studies now indicate the longer you sit, the greater your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
You see the term “active aging” quite frequently, but what does it mean? Active aging is a term describing people and populations who live life as fully as possible. Particularly, they live within the seven dimensions of wellness — emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social and environmental.
The reality is most of us sit too much. A study published by Microsoft revealed that U.S. workers spend an average of seven hours per day on a computer — more hours than they sleep at night! Sitting at a desk for hours on end can result in increased muscle tension at the neck, back and shoulders. And if it’s not addressed, over time it can lead to spinal pain, headaches and even more serious symptoms —pain, tingling or numbness down the arms. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy behind your desk:
A healthy joint is like two smooth pieces of paper sliding against each other. Arthritis, joint damage, is like adding crinkles to the papers, with the friction causing pain and problems. However, in severe cases, and even with bone-on-bone degeneration, having no pain with “activities of daily living” is easily obtainable with a lot of hard work and the right treatments.
Regular exercise and physical activity can help to prevent disease, improve mental health, increase energy, reduce the risk of falling and much more. Here’s how!
With a new year comes new goals to better ourselves. Whether you have been exercising for years or are just starting out, be especially careful to avoid injury. Loss of flexibility and of bone and muscle mass increases the risk of injury and slows down recovery.
March is National Kidney Month! In celebration, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i will be hosting its 4th Annual Walk on the Wild Side event on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 11am to 4pm at Fort Street Mall and Chinatown.
Although improved fitness plays a significant role in improving overall health and reducing your risk for disease, Medicare usually does not cover exercise classes or the services of a personal trainer. However, when medically necessary, Medicare Part B may cover occupational and physical therapy, which could include some exercise and fitness training.
Our daily lives are filled with so many distractions that it’s easy to feel scattered and stressed. When you are chronically stressed it becomes harder to function properly, increasing your stress even more and often inviting disease. To help manage their stress, many people have turned to yoga and mind-body training because its healthy effects on body and mind are now widely recognized.
Tai Chi, often referred to as “moving meditation,” is an ancient Chinese practice characterized by slow, flowing, low-impact movements and deep breathing. It offers wonderful benefits for any age group and is an incredibly effective and helpful practice for older adults.
A “modified squat” is one of the most beneficial exercises to learn. It strengthens the lower body and core and reduces the strain on the knees when done right. Unfortunately, most people never learn the PROPER way to squat.
As we age, exercise becomes more and more important — not only for our bodies, but for our minds as well. But fitness doesn’t always have to happen from inside the local gym. You can get on a path to a fit and healthy lifestyle by incorporating cycling into your daily routine.
At the YMCA of Honolulu, our programs and services are tailored to meet all ages, abilities and goals — and so are our yoga classes! All health and fitness facility Y Branches offer a range of yoga classes for kūpuna, from ones that will bring on a light sweat to others that will give you a soothing stretch while seated on a chair.
How does one keep the interest of the elderly? It can be challenging. Nature walks, painting, board games, puzzles, word and picture games are among the typical activities of the elderly.
