Wellness at Every Stage

Due to my family’s history of health challenges, I have chosen a path and lifestyle focused on wellness practices, including exercise and a health-centered diet. At this time of year, I am sharing my autumn reminder with you: keep going, despite cooler temps! Exercise, done properly and regularly, can be a great form of preventative medicine. Even at 40 degrees, you can dress appropriately and walk briskly outdoors. Beyond that threshold, exercising in a gym or at home is also a great alternative for keeping your fitness habit alive and thriving.

 If you are between the ages of 20-50, believe it or not, now is the time to prepare for the later stages of life. Wellness at every stage prepares us for wellness in the future. If you are 70ish, it is imperative that you are currently up on your health game and stay the course; now is not the time to slack off. I can’t help but notice that, as we age, boomers in their 60s and 70s tend to fall into two categories: those who are still independently mobile and (relatively) pain-free, having exercised most of their adult lives; and those who have not prepared.

For the latter category, the cause of discomfort is sometimes in our DNA, but for most, it’s the lack of healthy dietary habits and a consistent exercise regimen. Some folks are finding it painful and difficult to move, to walk with ease, to transition from sitting to standing and vice versa, to go up and down stairs, etc., and it’s impacting their lives in a major way.

I broach this topic as a reminder to those who are not doing all they can to prepare for tomorrow. Enjoy your youth, but be consistent with healthy practices, because if you are fortunate enough, you will one day face life’s elder stages. Once there, you’ll want to move through those times as gracefully as possible, and without physical pains that could have been prevented. I know it’s difficult to imagine getting older, but perhaps you have loved ones -- parents, grandparents, other relatives, and friends -- who could use some encouragement. Caring for our health, is like putting money in a high-yield account: it will eventually pay off.

 New York-based massage therapist, Ajah Wolfe has explained to me that, “…as we age, it’s important to exercise more, not less.” Exercising increases the likelihood of good circulation, the ease of mobility, and a reduction in risk factors for many age-related illnesses. And remember: once mobility is impaired, it’s typically downhill from there.

When it comes to exercise in the winter stage of life, it doesn’t need to be super vigorous or extreme. Instead, I recommend exercises that are gentle on bones and joints. Consider committing to one or two of the following:

·      Walking - which helps with both our physical and cognitive capacities;

·      Squatting - something we must do anyway, each time we stand up or sit down;

·      Swimming or water aerobics - easy on the bones and joints;

·      Tae-chi, qigong, or chair yoga - these increase stability, balance, and grace;

·      Simple stretching - for flexibility;

·      Resistance training - beginning with light weights for strength and bone density;

·      Stationary bicycling - for cardio and general health.

 Making some of these practices a priority can be a great way to avoid the walking cane, the walker, and then the wheelchair. If you watched, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, you know it’s possible to live far into your 90s and even past 100 years of age, and still remain independently mobile.

100-year-old woman gracefully dancing while balancing a bottle on her head. From the Netflix documentary - Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

Disclaimer here: Eating healthy and exercising won't necessarily keep us from avoiding all illnesses. I can testify to that. I have exercised and eaten healthy most of my adult life, and yet, I recently had a life-threatening disease. Good health habits won't prevent us from leaving this life, but we can try to be as healthy and mobile as possible while we're here.

Despite popular beliefs, veganism or vegetarianism is not the only way to eat healthy. When we monitor our sugar and salt consumption, lower our intake volume, and sacrifice to care for our bodies, our healthy practices can help us ward off and more easily recover from major illnesses. If a pain or malady is keeping you from taking action, or perhaps your knee or hip needs replacing, don’t wait! Have it addressed sooner rather than later, and regain your healthy equilibrium. The Blue Zones have proven that we can do this!