What type of old person do you want to be?
This probably isn’t something that you have considered much, but it is actually well worth taking a minute to think about whilst you are reading this short article.
There is a proverb that says ” the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now.”
This is a perfect way of looking at ageing and how well we move. The habits and actions that we put in place today, will echo through our lives, and ultimately will have a large impact on how capable we are in old age.
The later we start to think about moving well and maintaining our physical freedom, the harder it is to reclaim.
Falls, bone breakages and joint injuries increase dramatically as we age, largely because many people begin to lose strength, mobility and balance.
Take a look at your own old people, do they struggle with getting up a flight of stairs, or are they able to walk around comfortably and freely? If they are still able to move well, the chances are that they have always been pretty active, in comparison to today’s adults.
I have met people in their 30s and 40s who are already in pain and suffering from significantly reduced movement capabilities (largely due to prolonged periods of sitting and general inactivity), which in reality will only get worse with age.
The body is hyper-adaptable to whatever situation you put it in, so we need to be mindful of this. Joints are designed to move through their full range, regularly under our body weight and external load. Ensuring that we do this with a focus on improving and maintaining range of motion and strength about each joint is therefore essential for long term outcomes.
As a result, this should be our focus (if nothing else). Incorporating a daily movement practice into your routine is probably one of the most beneficial things that you can do to improve your short term and long term health.
This Graphic below (originally from Public Health England), shows how important implementing an appropriate exercise regime can be in enabling you to minimise the effects of ageing and more importantly avoid the pictured ‘Disability Threshold’.
All it takes to start with is 10-15 minutes a day (which can be split into smaller chunks) every day to see significant improvements over time.
In addition, we should also aim to be eating a balanced, varied, eucaloric diet, and intentionally exercising for 30+ minutes 3-7 times a week with a mixture of cardiovascular and resistance training ideally for the best outcomes. But as a start point if that seems too much, just do your mobility and try to move more each day in general. This will provide a decent foundation from which to build.
Prioritise your health now, and you won’t have to pay for it later (both with your hard-earned money, and figuratively).
If you need help with this, I have attached a simple follow along 10-minute mobility sequence for you to work from here: https://youtu.be/N_o70DQj_cs
To take the next step and learn how to take back control of your health by regaining your physical freedom, whilst learning how to maintain it for life, get in touch, and I will happily assist you.
You can book a free, no-obligation consultation call here to discuss how we can work together to help you: https://calendly.com/simplesessions/consultation-call
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