I have always preached that you must move your body to keep your insides healthy. I have also always said, “The weight loss and the way you feel are fringe benefits of exercise.”
I was recently asked to speak at an event — a large venue — and I was honored to be invited. I was asked to talk about why it is important to keep moving and exercising as we age.
I have always said that we must move our bodies. Your body is like anything else that goes unused — it will rust! You have to keep the blood flowing. The only thing that works the most important muscle in the body, the heart, is what we call cardio — movement!
I do understand that as people age, it gets tougher to move, but you can’t give in. You must push yourself to do a little something every day.
A woman in her 80s came to me, letting
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For those who really can’t walk, there are a couple of other options I spoke about. The first is chair yoga. Everything is done while sitting, and you move the body parts that you can. There is a lot of upper-body movement and stretching in chair yoga.
The second is something called the Cubii. This device is placed on the floor, under your desk or in front of wherever you happen to be sitting. You basically pedal with your feet, and it gets the blood flowing the same as if you were walking. They make a couple of models; the more advanced one has arm bands that allow you to pull while seated, giving you an upper-body workout as well.
I then told a personal story about a very bad car accident I was in. I shared this story because it proves that exercise is truly about being healthy.
I had three brain bleeds and was put in a self-induced coma. One of my bleeds caused loss of smell and taste, one caused loss of short-term memory, and the third affected my balance and coordination. The doctors told my family that if I made it through the night, I would probably use a walker for the rest of my life.
I did physical, speech, and cognitive therapy for over a year. I have no memory of any of it. However, my first memory of speaking with my neurologist is him telling me that if I had not been in such good physical condition, I might not have recovered as quickly. Hearing this made me even more determined to get back to working out, teaching classes, and educating people on the importance of exercise.
Not only did I not use a walker — I went on to run four marathons. I don’t say that to brag; I say it to inspire people to move. It took me almost three years to fully recover, but I was determined!
I ask two questions to new clients:
- What is the most important muscle in the body?
- What body part do you think I want to make the strongest?
I already mentioned the most important muscle — the heart. The body part I want to make the strongest is the mind. When you have a strong mind, almost anything and everything is possible.
I am not a runner, nor am I built like one, but after three years of recovery, I was determined to run a marathon. I put my mind to it!
Again, I understand there are people who cannot physically move, but if you can move your legs and arms, move them. You absolutely have to push forward, keep the blood flowing, and keep the heart healthy. Moving and lifting light weights also protects your bones, which is especially important as you age.
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Making exercise a priority is best if you start at a young age. However, it is never too late to start. It may be tougher in the beginning if you haven’t been exercising, but again — it’s never too late. It is imperative that you do.
“We do not stop exercising because we grow old. We grow old because we stop exercising.”
“It’s better to be the oldest person in the weight room than the youngest person in the nursing home.”
“Don’t let age change you. Instead, change the way you age.”
“Age is not a barrier; it’s a limitation you put in your mind.”
These are some of the best quotes — reread them and let them sink in!
