10 Reasons to keep exercising as we age.

As we age our biology changes, and for me, so does my motivation to keep exercising. When I was in my 20's my main motivation for working out was to achieve the almighty 6 - pack abs. I laugh now when I look back at how determined I was to achieve the "perfect body," whatever that even means.

With time, I became more aware of the internal benefits of daily exercise. I began to focus on how good exercise made me feel, rather than how I looked. The bottom line is that every body is built differently. There is no "perfect body." It does not exist. I've spent a lot of my career in the gyms, and believe me when I tell you that even the girl who seems to have a perfectly fit body...doesn't achieve that figure naturally.

Shifting my focus from the vanity aspect of fitness towards the overall health and wellness benefits of it has actually brought more joy and peace into my mind and well being.

Here are 10 reasons that we should continue to exercise on a regular basis as we get older.

1. Independence. I have spent the last 5 years of my career working with active seniors, teaching silver sneakers at least twice a week. The average age of the members in my silver sneakers classes is 78. I am inspired by their level of physical activity, and independence. Many older members of my own family are reliant on others to perform daily activities. I can't help but to compare members of my own family with the members who take my silver sneakers classes. I want to be able to drive myself to the gym, travel on my own, and be self sufficient when I grow up. Engaging in regular exercise gives us the physical strength and body control to be able to do this.

2. Balance. One of the reasons that many older adults are unable to be self sufficient is because the weakened muscles contribute to a loss of balance, making it easier to fall and get injured. When we make exercise a regular part of our lifestyle, we keep our muscles strong. Strong muscles help to support the joints, contributing to better balance. When we think of exercise, we often think of strength and possibly endurance. We often forget that balance is a major component of fitness.

3. Energy. The more we move, the more our bodies want to continue moving. A body that doesn't move, will begin to rust. Study after study indicates that exercise contributes to healthy energy. A healthy exercise routine will give you more energy to live an active life. A sedentary life contributes to lethargy, making it more and more difficult to get up and move.

4. Better Sleep. Exercising helps us to live more in accordance with the natural circadian rhythms of life. Being active throughout the day expends energy, so as the sun sets, our body is naturally ready to rest and recover. Whereas when we are sedentary all day, day after day, our body begins to drift off its natural alignment. This will contribute to interrupted sleep patterns, such as insomnia.

5. Disease Prevention. According to an article published in 2019 by Health.gov. regular exercise has been shown to prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, depression/anxiety, and even some forms of cancer. Need I say more?

6. Brain Function and Mental Clarity. Have you ever had an insanely busy day, that leaves you in a mental fog making hard to focus? Go get a good sweaty workout in, and notice how the stress leaves your head, and how much clearer you're able to see things afterward. Healthy Living writes that exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells and helps prevent age related decline.

7. Range of Motion. Flexibility is another major component of fitness. Any exercise program should include time dedicated to stretching and flexibility. This keeps our muscles from becoming too tight, and pulling our body out of alignment, which in turn will contribute to an injury. This becomes more important as we age. Our muscles and joints lose elasticity as we age. This will eventually create limited mobility, making it harder for us to live independently. The exercises we perform as we get older, should focus on lengthening our limbs as well as strengthening them.

8. Quality of Life. Everything that I have listed above contributes to an overall better quality of life. Independence, better sleep, mental clarity, balance, and full range of motion through out our joints, leaves us with the opportunity to continue to do the things we love well into our 70's, 80's, and even into our 90's. I know that for me, I would hate to live a life where I couldn't dance, or take long walks in nature, swim in the ocean, splash around in a river, or jam out in my favorite fitness class.

9. Endorphins. Endorphins are known as the "Happy Hormone." This is what leaves us with that natural high feeling we get after working out. Our body literally shoots out a blast of feel good when we finish working out. Who doesn't want that?

10. Fun. Lastly, a great reason to continue to exercise as we age, is that it is Fun! Whatever your favorite workout is, whether it be a spin class, a lifting session, or a yoga routine, it is fun.

If you know the benefits of exercise, but can't manage to implement it into your life, please contact me. This is what I am here for. This is what I do, and have done for years. I love to help people discover their personal journey of a healthy lifestyle.

As always, love and namaste,

Sabrina