Fitness 4 Seniors

Fitness & Exercise

The essence of good health has always been about a balanced diet and moderate exercise. Contemporary surveys show that in America, obesity is rampant, diabetes is epidemic, and chronic diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and cancer, are sky rocketing.

All caused by the excessive intake of high calorie foods like soft drinks, sweets, alcoholic beverages, and salty snacks.

But, good overall health has as much to do with the state of tune in which we maintain our bodies as it does with the quality of the fuel we use to power it. Good health is not about just eating right. Physical fitness is an equally important part of the equation.

The Need For Exercise

Prior to the mid-60's, our parents and grandparents led physically active lives. They managed this without going to a gym or participating in formalized exercise programs.

There is nothing wrong with technological inventions. They save a lot of time and remove much of the drudgery from our daily chores, both at home and at work. But we do need to replace those fitness-generating activities technology has eliminated with some form of exercise.

An unfit body is like a car that has never been given a tune up. It becomes less efficient, less reliable, and will wear out faster and cost more to repair when it finally stops running altogether.

A one hour workout will yield two hours of longevity. Exercise prevents muscle atrophy as you age, reduces bone mass loss, stabilizes blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure and improves blood/oxygen flow throughout the body. According to studies, increased oxygen flow to the brain has the effect of improving memory and learning.

Many folks (over 55) are under the erroneous impression that as one gets older, the body is supposed to become fragile, and subject to all manner of ailments.

Having a consistent fitness program is not a luxury, but a necessity. Our technology driven society gives rise to less physical exercise and subjects individuals to more stress than ever before. The obesity epidemic coupled with ever increasing rates of heart disease and strokes is testament to that. There is NO magic pill to relieve this worsening situation. The decision to engage a personal fitness program is not an option if we are to experience the fullness of life without disease.

This is the point where the water gets a little murky. Which program? What equipment is best suited to my needs? Where can I receive the necessary instructions / training to make my chosen program most effective?

There are a countless exercise programs and 'miracle' machines available to today's consumers. Choosing the 'right' one can be confusing, not to mention, costly. The best advice for older adults is to choose a program that is effective, efficient, and low-impact.

The three (3) programs represented here entail very low-impact, but highly effective exercises.

The TreadClimber

A TreadClimber can be your dream machine if you want to lose weight, tone your abs and thighs, increase lung capacity and improve cardiovascular strength. The unique engineering behind the development of this machine combines the movements of the traditional treadmill, the stair climber and the elliptical bicycle. To learn more about this extraordinary exercise machine, visit our TreadClimber information page

Rebounding

What is Rebounding? Rebounding is a fun and safe way to get a great exercise using a mini trampoline. It is especially well suited to the over 50 group as it is a VERY LOW IMPACT form of fitness exercise. Impact on ankle, knee and hip joints is almost non-existent.

Rebounding is safe because your feet barely leave mat the surface, and a stabilizing bar can be added to aid in maintaining balance. Rebounding is now included as a part of the exercise programs in many of the leading gyms and professional sports workout facilities.

To learn more about Rebounding, visit our Rebounding for Fitness Information page.

Tai Chi

Tai-Chi is a form of exercise which anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, can do. It is an ancient system from China that consists of slow, flowing movements that are excellent for improving balance and helps to keep joints flexible and supple.

The two main aspects of Tai Chi are the conditioning of the body while developing the focus of the mind. By simply practicing the set of exercises that make up Tai-Chi for 20 minutes per day, you will be able to let go of stress much more quickly while increasing your stamina and overall health and fitness.

Additional benefits are numerous and include learning how to breathe more efficiently, the lowering of your blood pressure, the increase of bone density, improved joint flexibility and clarity of mind. (improved memory and mental focus)

There are a many Tai Chi programs, but after purchasing and using over 15 different instructional DVD's, I have narrowed the field to just two programs as depicted on our Tai Chi Information page.


Summary

Take your time and examine all three programs as presented above before selecting the program that is best suited to your lifestyle and physical condition.