Exercise is King

July 18, 2022 | Blog | Reading Time 3:00 Minutes

Jack Lalanne, the original celebrity fitness guru, said, “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together, and you’ve got a kingdom.”

There are plenty of opportunities for getting exercise without leaving Foulk Living.

Exercise is King

Jack Lalanne, the original celebrity fitness guru, said, “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together, and you’ve got a kingdom.”

For now, let’s talk about “the king”…in other words, exercise.

Studies show that less than one-third of seniors participate in moderate weekly exercises, according to the National Council on Aging. This is despite the increase in time retired adults have available for pursuing activity and the extensive benefits of doing so. Physical activity is reported to be the number one contributor to longevity. Remarkably, this is true even if you don’t start exercising until your senior years. The fact is that exercise, even if it’s moderate, can help you achieve a longer and healthier life.

Benefits of exercise include:

• Improved strength. This can help seniors stay more independent.
• Improved balance. This can help prevent falls and injuries.
• Prevented or delayed illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis
• Enhanced mood. It can help fight depression.
• Improved cognitive function. It can help delay or prevent the onset of dementia.
• Boosted energy level
• Weight management. Your metabolism slows with age, so maintaining a healthy weight becomes an increasing challenge. Regular exercise helps

Once you decide you’re going to get active, the first step is to identify the type(s) of exercise in which you’d like to participate. The very best exercise, according to SilverSneakers.org, is “the one you like most, so you will stick with it.”  Some of their recommendations include:

• Yoga–considered a holistic approach to fitness, yoga helps build muscle strength, core stability and mobility while being low impact and easy on your joints
• Pilates–a low-impact form of exercise focusing on core stability
• Walking–this is a great and free workout that can be done individually or with a group for social connectedness.
• Cycling–is low impact and increases leg strength, and enhances cardiovascular health and cognitive function
• Aerobics classes–good holistic exercise and classes provide the opportunity for socialization

You should always get your doctor’s approval for a new fitness routine, but after that, there’s little legitimate excuse for not exercising. Care.com has special suggestions. For example, sore joints? Try swimming. Limited mobility? Try Tai Chi. Even in a wheelchair, Tai Chi improves flexibility and balance. Using a walker? Tai Chi works for you too! Heart condition? Mild aerobic exercise, with your physician’s approval, could work wonders.

There are plenty of opportunities for getting exercise without leaving Foulk Living. Built into our monthly activities calendar are exercise programs, including chair yoga, walking club, our ball drum class, and more.

As www.helpguide.org says, “Getting active is not just about adding years to your life; it’s about adding life to your years.”  So, get moving!