From the President
Lorna McIlroy | President, ARTA
Water as Me
Every living thing has a unique relationshi
houseplants each have individual requirem
must be satisfied if they are to flourish. Fo
appreciate generous watering coupled wi
my succulents will not tolerate wet feet.
My local branch’s Body Composition Analysis
Clinic taught me that my body is fifty to seventy per
cent water and that I should be consuming three
litres of water daily. This amount of water is crucial
for our health and reportedly we can live only three
days without any water.
Perhaps heredity explains our distinctive,
individual relationships with water. My mother was
born on the western coast of Scotland where the
cold spray of the Atlantic would reach their home
in winter months, and my father grew up in a house
overlooking the same mighty ocean on the Cape
Breton coast. This could explain my fascination
with the sound of waves lapping on the shore, but
also my recognition of the immense power of water,
which we know we cannot completely control. This
means that I shy away from surfing, water skiing,
and most active water sports.
Water is an excellent aid to exercise, particularly
for seniors because it offers added resistance while
cushioning our aging joints. There are many choices,
depending on your personal relationship with water:
shallow or deep-water aerobics, walking in water,
doing laps, or competitive swimming. Mary Helen
Hopkins of Grande Prairie, who was featured in our
2017 winter issue, has been swimming competitively
in retirement with numerous medal wins. She was
recently named Female Athlete of the Year for the
2020 Northwest Alberta Sport Excellence Awards,
and that includes all females, not just seniors!