Growing Bolder.Com is my new favorite facebook page.
I read Helen Dennis’ column, “Successful Aging,” every
Sunday in the Daily Breeze. I’m thrilled
that she discusses topics relevant to today’s thriving Baby Boomers and seniors. No more languishing unsung in the corner for
this demographic; we’re about to start getting the respect and attention we deserve!
The topic of aging is dear to me for two reasons. The first is that I find myself advancing past
middle age in a sea of media that’s geared toward twenty and thirty somethings.
But ours is an age group that’s vital
and worthy! It is about time that we are
invited to the party.
Second, I have a bit of an odd family history: We either die in our forties or, like my mother,
live well into our 90’s. Since I’m
approaching my 64th birthday and am quite NOT dead, it seems I’m
following in my mother’s footsteps toward longevity.
So, I have chosen to age with grace.
And I’m not alone.
There’s a whole generation of people who want to learn how to be mindful
and take charge as they learn how to manage stress, tension, and pain. That’s why I teach people how to explore
what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. That means showing people how to undo the
habits that are undoing them. Exercise
for fun and fitness, but, as Moshe Feldenkrais said,
“If you know what you are
doing, you can do what you want.”
The recent Daily
Breeze column asked, “Should older adults join fitness centers?” The author urged us to “listen to our bodies.” Good advice indeed, but to me it came up a
bit short. Just HOW do we listen to our
bodies? If something hurts, do we just
quit? If we get tired, do we just quit? Unfortunately,
that might find a fair few of us taking up residence on the sofa. We might
listen, but how can we change what is happening. First, we must know what is
happening.
So, a few tips:
- If you
are using a piece of equipment, or doing a particular exercise and you
hurt, don’t just stop, and definitely don’t “muscle through it.” This is
no time to be a martyr. If you feel
an exercise gives you pain, examine what you are doing. HOW are you doing
it? Often, you can figure out
another way to do it, which will keep you active and engaged.
- If you
get tired, take mini rests throughout your workout. In strength training, there’s no benefit
to exercising until you drop. Just
forget that whole “no pain, no gain” thing. You could actually end up tearing muscle
fibers rather than building them! Slow and steady is the key here. These
rests might just help your brain catch up to your muscles. Rest BEFORE you
fatigue.
- Know what muscle groups are important for basic functions like walking, reaching, twisting, and lifting. For example, how many people know the importance of the muscles on the back the the thigh, the gluteal and hamstring muscles for upright walking? This is where I, a Feldenkrais Practitioner® can really help; you can experience how the body works, allowing you to SAFELY build muscle while protecting joints and ligaments and connecting all of this to your brain so that you will continue to function easily.
I go to a gym and I watch as seniors come in. Most walk while looking at the floor, afraid
of falling. I teach my senior clients
how to feel themselves on their feet and how to be in gravity; how to feel at
ease being upright. Strength training and
stretching won’t improve function.
Starting this spring, I’ll be teaching a “Change As You
Age®” workshop that will begin as 5 two-hour segments twice a month. We’ll
explore habits, how to spot them and
how to change them. Participants will gain
an understanding of how our minds and bodies work together to feel and function
better.
Here’s to getting better, healthier and aging with grace.
Best of health,
Beth
www.movementmatters.us
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