If you think you’re too old to be fit, think again. For women (and men) in their sixties and beyond, fitness has a specific role. It’s not just about looking good — though, you definitely will if you stick with a routine!
As we get older, we are more prone to losing our balance, losing elasticity and flexibility in our joints and muscles and losing our eye-hand coordination. It may sound all bad, but there’s good news here.
You don’t have to exercise more or lift heavier weights to build strength.
At this stage of your life, it’s about using lighter weights and performing more repetitions. This will help build and maintain muscle strength as well as protect your joints from additional stress. To help ease muscle soreness the natural way, try a homeopathic topical cream formulated from plant compounds.
Instead of exercising for hours on end or running marathons (unless you really like that sort of thing), working the stationary bike or elliptical are great options for cardiovascular exercise. These can be done with limited mobility and still get your heart rate up and blood pumping.
You do, however, need to focus on functional fitness.
Functional fitness refers to exercises which stimulate your nervous system and mimic your daily activities. Tai chi and yoga are good examples, because they test your balance and physical strength. Not to mention, these meditative workouts force you to use mental toughness as you focus carefully on each movement and drown out any external noise.
As we get older, it’s about exercising smarter. Be mindful of this and your body will thank you.