There are so many great stories out this week on seniors getting into fitness programs and finding their independence flourishing as a by-product, we decided to highlight the theme in our weekly blog.
First, a story from Bowling Green, Kentucky, courtesy of BGdailynews.com, on a local conference focused on senior longevity that coordinated discussion groups, dietary workshops and a class on "chair yoga" with the goal of encouraging seniors to focus on diet, exercise and de-stressing in order to maintain an overall fitness, and remain independent.
The overall message: About 75 percent of all illness and disease can be prevented by making better lifestyle choices.
Just outside Kansas City, Missouri, in the town of St. Joseph, hundreds of seniors got the workout of a lifetime with the aim of promoting National Senior Health and Fitness Day, and local folks did there part to contribute to an estimated 1,000 events that took place across the country to promote healthier lives for the elderly.
While the event is gathering steam, there is plenty more to do to promote a key part of the puzzle to healthy aging, and really, healthy living, amongst Americans.
It's all part of a statement: The notion of being "over the hill" is a state of mind, as octogenarians Richard, 87, and Erma Hill, 86, of Flushing Meadows, New York, exemplify with their tennis work outs.
The Hills joined an area CityParks Seniors Fitness program in 2006 and state that there is no excuse for seniors not being able to get active with all the free programs being offered by local foundations.
Mrs. Hill said, “The more you stay active, the more you can do.”
How's that for "over the hill?"
Not!
Ok, so you're bored with the same old same old, and tennis is just so 1990's, then take a different route with a course in Tai Chi. News out of India, which will soon become the most populous country on the planet, indicates the ancient fitness technique is perfect for seniors.
"With advancing age, our body experiences many physical changes, which could lead to anxiety, depression and other kinds of ailments. While there are many forms of exercises that help the ailing elderly to recover, the 700-year-old Chinese martial arts Tai Chi, is an effective and dynamic form of exercise."
With nearly the most people in the world, something must be working, and the story from the Times of India indicates it's fitness!
So, whether you look in your backyard, across the country, or across the seas, do yourselves a favor, seniors, and see the benefits of fitness in maintaining an independent lifestyle.
(Image Courtesy of Steven DePolo on Flickr)
