Yoga, Pilates, Stretching, Balance & Dance
Yoga, Pilates, Stretching, Balance & Dance
Great article on the Benefits of Dance as an Exercise Strategy
One of the many newsletters I take had this very readable article on the benefits of taking a dance class for the purpose of exercise. Learning new steps with a favorite partner or a new one can improve the way the brain works and improve balance and motor control...
What Is Yoga? Classes, Studios And Styles For Beginners
By keekee lee What is yoga and how do you get started with it? How do you choose from so many styles, studioes, classes and levels out there now. If you are new to yoga and wanting to learn the basic of the poses then consider taking a class for beginners. There are...
Tips to Overcome Testosterone Decline
By John Andrews Many men who have reached the prime of their life encounter insufficient testosterone levels. Commonly referred to as andropause or male menopause, low testosterone is very common and can have some unwanted effects if left untreated. A reduced body...
Year-end Lapses of Fitness and the Promise of a New Year
'Tis the week before Christmas (or thereabouts) and the start of Hanukkah; lights are up or going up all over the neighborhood, and I am counting the days to getting the tax stuff together. Putting our place into Christmas mode takes literally 7 weekends in a row, and...
The importance of posture, fluidity of motion, flexibility and balance are undeniable in terms of aging gracefully.
We believe that the swift and the strong don’t have a corner on happiness, and hope you will take time to find the value in these milder forms of exercise. Don’t kid yourself that they are not strenuous, but they build a strength that is more evident in the grace of movement, more like a dancer than the sinew and bones look of the marathoner or the bulging bulk of a power lifter.
Yoga
Yoga developed over centuries in ancient times primarily in India. It has a religious or spiritual basis, but has been adapted in western culture primarily as a form of exercise to promote tranquility and lower stress, while enhancing flexibility and reducing pain. A much more complete discussion is available at Wikipedia.
Martial Arts
The ancient Asian Martial Arts forms bring in the moves of combat in which the elements of speed and precise movement foster improvements in balance and reaction times. The milder forms such as Tai-Chi are highly suitable to this cause of senior fitness. Full contact martial arts are truly for the young and shortsighted! As seniors, it is imperative that we control the risk of injury and chose safe, well regulated activities that won’t break our bones and tear our ligaments and tendons; those injuries invariably come back to cause pain and limitations to mobility in the long term – be smart about the risks, whatever sports and activities you pursue. (says your author who broke his T-12 vertebra attempting a 525 lb deadlift at 72)
Stretching
My approach to stretching is to incorporate it as a part of my gym workouts. Basically, I do a 30 second stretch with the muscle groups I just worked following every set. The axiom regarding not stretching cold muscle seems right to me – I do a mild, easily tolerated warm-up set for any particular muscle group like, for instance, the pectoral – deltoid combination used in bench press, followed by a specific stretch posture for that muscle set. I apply the stretch incrementally, increasing the extension/tension as the muscles will tolerate without major discomfort.