So many 55+ adults have some form of arthritis and I see this evidence in my Dance Aerobic classes at the various centers where I teach. Let me share with you this fact. Their attendance percentages are high, even though they were experiencing pain before coming to class. They don’t let it stop them! They find relief and enhanced mobility in activity that requires movement. This is just another reason why it’s so important for people to find a class or activity that they enjoy AND look forward to attending!

 

In the magazine, “WebMD,” under Health Information, Stephanie Watson writes a very interesting and informative article about arthritis. She said, “Even a little movement can do your joints a lot of good.” Also in this article, Dorothy D. Dunlop, a PhD, Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology at Northwestern University says, “For people with arthritis, being physically active will help reduce pain and joint stiffness, increase strength and improve mobility.”

 

In light of the above, whether you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease, or osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative condition, exercise can help. Let me repeat that – exercise can help! The first inclination when experiencing these symptoms is to avoid any kind of physical activity. However, by moving the effected part gently, you are helping to reduce the pain and/or stiffness. (This is why I always say to make sure you are taking a class where the instructor recommends “moving at your own pace.”)  Physical activities can reduce muscle loss, which is a common problem with RA, and in the case of OA, exercise helps take excess weight off stressed joints.

 

So often I hear about all the fun people have at their fitness classes. They meet many new people who enjoy similar activities and make new friends with those who frequent the same fitness classes.

 

In June I wrote, “How to Avoid Being a Couch Potato” (June 16, 2014, www.agelessaerobicdance.com/blog/). It had a list of Ideas for Everyday Movement. The third bullet talked about Moving while Socializing i.e., instead of just meeting a friend for coffee or lunch, why not add a walk in the park or a walk in the Mall.

 

My Virtual Assistant, Sherry Walter, who produces all these wonderful blogs for you with photos and illustrations (I just give her the body with the words), said: “KT, I had a chance to share with one of my health care professionals about using your wonderful Chair DVD to encourage movement in the arm with lymphedema, (see Sherry’s testimonial on my Service Page) but I wished I could transport you here to Ohio because I miss the social interaction and participation in your class.”

Hi everyone! I missed you last month when I took July off from blogging to refresh and rejuvenate my mission for seniors, which is “spreading the word of the importance of moving every day for a healthy life!”

 

Do you know that we’re over the halfway mark to a new year? How are your healthy goals going for 2014?  I am so excited about the many “baby boomers” who create and participate in various activities! In many areas of the country you see all ages hiking, swimming, playing all kinds of sports, and just getting out there and “moving”!  Many people use a local mall to walk or exercise indoors, especially in areas of the country too hot or too cold to walk or exercise outdoors.  A lot of people walk the mall before it is officially open.  One of my classes is the perfect example.  Many of the seniors, who take my 9:00am Dance Aerobic class at a Mall in Phoenix, will walk the Mall prior to class as a warm-up!  Way to go class!

 

I just returned from beautiful Westlake Village Inn in Southern California where I assisted Joy Chudacoff, Business Coach for Women and Founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, as she presented a retreat for some very smart women! I also assisted Eric Cosh, Videographer & Photographer, as he shot films and photos of the retreat for Joy. The weather was beautiful and please observe the view outside my room; definitely “aha moments!” It was truly a working “vacation!”

Today, we know for a fact that daily stretching and moderate exercise can increase your energy and overall health. Look at Jack LaLanne, who passed away in 2011 at the young age of 96. He emphasized the importance of exercise and stretching as part of his everyday life. Yes, he also practiced good eating habits along with his daily regimen and we’ll be covering nutrition in a future blog.

After 14 years of studying 123,000 people, Fitness Coach Tom Manfredi of fitness-after-50.com says, “So, even if we get 60 minutes of exercise per day, then sit for the remaining 15 waking hours, that sitting MAY override the good benefits derived from the exercise."

 

I believe Tom Manfredi is opening our eyes to a realistic view we need to think about. We have all heard how sitting too many hours watching TV or doing nothing can negatively affect our triglycerides, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. These prolonged periods of sitting can also contribute to our organs shutting down or giving us concerns. Tom states that after researching different studies, “sitting could even lead to death!” Beware of becoming a “Couch Potato!”

So many elderly people sit and watch TV or just sit forgetting to eat or hydrate themselves, preferably with water. This happened to my Mother and she had to be rushed to the hospital for an IV. After that she always kept one of those little bottles of water that's easy to handle with her. 

Here is the big question this week! Your friend asks you, “would you rather play horseshoes or exercise, would you rather play tennis or exercise?” I hear a large majority of people telling me horseshoes, tennis, any kind of sport. Why, because it’s a fun time!!

 

With exercise most people think of work and/or pain. On the other hand, with playing a sport they think of fun! Let me now perform a little psychology on you. As noted in my earlier blog, I referred to exercise as a sport! With this in mind, when you exercise you should be having a good time, yes or no? Would more people attend a fitness center or gym if they thought of it as going and competing in a sport with other people and having FUN or would they just pay the monthly rate because they know this is the thing to do, though they rarely do go?

 

Let me ask you, how do you classify riding your bike? Is it an exercise or a sport? Parent.com talks about all the benefits of a bike for exercise. Wikipedia.org talks about the sport of Bicycle Racing.

Last week we looked at exercise as a "fun" sport.  This week we will take a peek at the sport of exercising our brains.

 

Fortunately, we seniors are a strong market today and the proof is in how much longer we are living.  Just read AARP's magazine or go online to any of the websites for seniors.  Every day you see all the activities targeted for seniors on how to keep active plus how to better ourselves as we expand into our later years with numerous achievements like going to college, going back to work either for a company or as an Entrepreneur, and even showing leadership in important foundations or political matters in the world.  Look at Nola Ochs.  She is officially noted by The Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest person to receive a bachelor's degree in History at the seasoned age of 95 and a master's degree at the age of 98.  Awesome!

As we see from Nola, it is important that we exercise our brains as well as our bodies by playing games, doing crossword puzzles, and all kinds of activities that make us think and challenge our brains.  Even when teaching my dance aerobic classes, I always do movement combinations in our dance routines so that we're exercising our brains as well as our bodies!

 

In conclusion, if you, as a senior, are already playing a role in what I describe as the "unbeatable ageless generation" and have found your path to follow, then my role as the "Fitness Expert for Seniors" is to present all kinds of sports as we move our bodies and our brains toward a happy and healthy way of life.