Age-Appropriate

As younger seniors, Patty and I led cardio kickboxing classes at a local health club. It was great fun and getting paid to lead classes is always better than paying gym dues. We led the classes for three years or so and I was pushing age 70 when our series ended.

Next, we worked out together at another health club for a few years. We were steady but tapered off the high-intensity work. It’s what I like to call being age-appropriate as the years pass.

For cardio nowadays, Patty goes to Zuma classes. I take daily 30- to 40-minute walks with our family dog, Emma. She has a lot of pep and likes to play fetch. The rest of my exercise routine involves resistance bands and doing a little stretching.

As the decades added up, I pared down my workouts gradually. Along the way, there were martial arts, kettlebells, handball, cross-country skiing, distance running, and swimming. I was never a superstar at any of them, but at least I didn’t embarrass myself at a couple.

I always liked to change my workouts and mixing things up accomplishes two important things. First, by avoiding endless repetition of the same activity year after year lessens the chance of stress-related injuries. Second, the newness of different workouts keeps your enthusiasm high.

My cardinal rule with any exercise is this: If after workouts, I’m still tired following a good night’s rest, I know something is wrong. Usually, it means that I’m overtraining and adjustments should be made.

So where are you as a senior? Are you a young senior, say in your fifties or early sixties? If so, some of the Senior Exercise Central workouts such as Supersets, Workout A, Down The Rack, or Four Day splits, may suit you. Even some seniors in their seventies might be able to handle them. But as we grow older it usually pays to gradually decrease the intensity and/or duration of workouts. Cutting back the number of sets and decreasing the poundages lifted makes sense.

Keep in mind that most of the training information found online, in magazines, or in books is designed for younger people. Measuring yourself against younger generations isn’t realistic and may even be harmful.

Never stop being active but also be reasonable; that usually adds up to a longer and more healthful life.

Stay healthy. Stay fit.

Logan

Senior Exercise Central

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Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com