We still have to come toterms with aging. The hardest concept to come to terms with is that we can’t dothe same workout activities
that we did when we were in our 20s.You don’t have to jog, takespinning classes, or push yourself to the limit. Listen to your body. Youalready know that consistency is the most important aspect in any exerciseprogram.What about when you're 60?In your 60s, problems like arthritis, bad knees and hips, and a host of othermaladies are starting to contribute to your sense of unease. I am still indenial and I often push myself to the point of pain, but I refuse to give up. So,I choose to believe the experts who say that aches and pains shouldn’t be anexcuse to give up on exercise. Add a yoga routine for flexibility and balanceand you are good for the day (not to mention that you will feel accomplishedand really good about yourself).How doesexercise affect your heart? We already know that muscles respond tophysical activity by getting bigger and stronger, and the heart is noexception. Weight
training builds and tones muscles, increases theability to for the body to burn fat and strengthens bones. My “core”seems to be okay and I get the idea about the need to keep “it” strong, but Idon’t quite understand what the trainers are talking about.Thecore is the center of the body and where all movement begins. The core is thefoundation for stability, posture and movement. Your core includes themuscles in the area around your trunk and pelvis and is where your center ofgravity is located. Now that you are older you need to start thinking abouttaking care of the parts of you that don’t show. Coreconditioning (functional training) is about working the muscles that help youto do things that you do every day (not just the muscles that willmake you look good). I might be more inclined to try itagain if I could to it in the privacy of my own home.Expertsrecognize that
swimming is the best and most complete form of exercise. Itprovides most of the aerobic benefits that running does, with many of thebenefits of resistance training as well. Unlike running and other form ofexercises, swimming works all of the muscles of the body without straining thejoints and tendons.That’sright. The Endless Pool is ideal for water exercises and for havingfun. The current is adjustable to any ability and level of fitnessfrom beginner to the real competitor.Ittakes only minutes to get the hang of lap swimming in place. If you needto rest you just step to either side of the pool where the water is calmWalkingshouldn’t hurt. So, how is Chi Walking different from the garden varietythat you have been doing for the last fifty years? We all know thatwalking is good for us and we all know that we should be doing more of it, butwe also know that it is kind of boring and humdrum. Chi Walking isdesigned to teach you how to move in the way that we were designed tomove…naturally, smoothly and without strain.Theemphasis is on good posture, loose joints, engaging your core muscles andrelaxing the muscles in your arms and legs. This approach makes walkingeasier on the body and helps improve and eliminate the aches, pains and discomfortsof walking incorrectly. ChiWalking is based on five steps: aligning the body and mind; engaging coremuscles; creating a balance between both the upper and lower body and the rightand left sides of the body; making a choice to stick to a healthy program; andmoving forward. Studies are being done every day, and researchers aretelling us that exercise is the key to living longer and more productive livesthat ever before.Aerobicexercise increases the brain’s volume of gray matter and white matter.