Thirty years of experience has taught me that exercise or the lack of it, has everything to do with how one ages.People who practice mindful movement,whether dancing. or household chores or exercise classes.will be more fit and recover faster from health issues. the more we use our bodies the longer they hold onto muscle.

Why does this matter?  Because muscle burns calories more efficiently, makes us less prone to brittle bones and enables us to do things which those with poor muscle tone cannot. As an appearance oriented  society we think of working out as making us look better.In truth, there are other reasons to work out.

As we know from all the brain research for stroke and ALZ issues, the brain is healthier in people who move. Our bodies store glucose in our muscles which is then used as fuel.When we’re active our muscles burn the glucose for fuel,this makes our thyroid work as well.

The body is one machine and all the systems work together,yet we look at the as separate. The more research that is done, the more we find that everything is interconnected. What we do to keep our minds healthy affects out bodies, and in turn, things we do to keep our bodies healthy will affect our mind.

So where do we start if we have slowed down on activities and have noticed atrophy..what if we’re 80 years old and had a surgery or,other setback? When I work with people in this situation I try to get them into a  swimming pool. We begin by simply standing  in water up to ones chest and moving the limbs. it  is a method of gently  and  precisely moving with the water providing buoyancy and resistance. This gentle exercise of moving through a range of motion is very helpful to wake up creaky joints,and soft tissue.

I also teach Qi Gong to people who are on walkers. We start with the upper body moves and stretches with deep breathing. My class is usually invigorated and more alert after 20 minutes. Then, if they are able, we will do some gentle movements for their lower body as well.

The main idea with these types of classes is for me to introduce gentle, yet beneficial movement to my Seniors. By doing this I help them to understand that exercise is not just pushing yourself to the limits for an hour. When we get stuck in our preconceived notions of what it means to  work out then is we become resistant to it instead of welcoming the joy of movement.

Movement of any kind, performed regularly and carefully, will always be a benefit to our bodies and minds!

Val Boonstra