Folks meet to exercise at the top of this hill. Here, Sheila’ s son, Connor, takes the stairs
Sheila does a yoga plank in her not-fancy gym
YouTube is another gym alternative, offering zillions of videos, from foot health to kickboxing to Parkinson’ s workouts. I’ ve tried a half-hour video for mobility( all I need is a yoga mat) and another for lifting a kettlebell.
But let me come clean: I also pay a fee to belong to a gym. On my own, my good intentions are flimsy. But under the watchful eye of an instructor and with classmates, I start on time and work harder.
A schedule keeps me playing pickleball, and I am more likely to walk or cycle if I do so with someone else. Sound familiar? You might crave the nudge of a walking schedule with the neighbour’ s dog or the routine and fellowship of a cross-country ski group. In Alberta, for example, you can look online at Nordiq Alberta to find a nearby ski club.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that adults 65 and older get 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity each week. That could equal five thirty-minute cardio activities or a bunch of ten-minute exercise“ snacks.” The agency also says,“ It is beneficial to add muscle and bone strengthening activities using major muscle groups at least twice a week. This will help your posture and balance.”
For balance and posture, I practise yoga, which provides many other benefits. I started about a hundred years ago, and it still challenges me. You can start today, even if you’ ve never tried it. For cardio, I enjoy other activities.
All of this I track in a journal. Nothing complicated. Just the date and“ weights” or“ hike.” Or— curses!— an“ ✗” when I do nothing. Is my balance excellent? Not yet. Do I have noodle arms? Yup. Still a goal.
Scout around for equipment you already own( or can rent or borrow): a bike, a football, a canoe, snowshoes. Even if you don’ t play a sport, you are allowed to shoot hoops or play catch with a friend. Do you swim? Dig out your bathing suit and hop into a municipal pool. Next summer, you’ ll be ready to swim outside!
One friend dances every morning for forty-five minutes. She created a catchy playlist on Spotify, and her steps add up fast! Another friend does bicep curls with soup cans while she waits for supper to cook. Squats or a wall sit can happen almost anywhere. If injuries or illnesses make you unsure about exercise, ask your doctor for advice. Some days I feel limber and peppy; other days, not so much. My body harbours aches and weaknesses, but it’ s strong, too! Rather than idle in neutral— or park!— I try to shake it off and shift into first gear.
Note to self: Keep moving. Every day.
Sheila Bean taught with the Calgary Board of Education for seventeen years, and that included teaching many gym classes. Wow, the noise of thirty or more basketballs bouncing at the same time! Now retired, she considers herself active, if not particularly athletic.
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