Fitness by Jennifer Cox Flexibility is something that becomes extra important in our later years, and it’s also one of those things that canmost be affected by age. Working on our flexibility helps promote healthy muscles and joints, and keeps us moving smoothly, which can improve our range of motion and thereby elevate our overall health. After all, if you want to enjoy an active lifestyle by exercising or participating in certain physical activities or sports, you will need to constantly stay on top of your flexibility. Let’s get flexible! Best ways to improve your flexibility Stretching is number one Not only will stretching help to improve how flexible you are, it can also increase your circulation, reduce pain in your back and shoulders and improve your posture, too. Aging can affect the elasticity of joints and muscles, so stretching should be incorporated into almost every workout, both before you begin exercising as well as afterwards. Stretching can also be done on its own, in many ways and in almost any place. Do some research on stretching exercises that are recommended for seniors, or talk to a personal trainer at a nearby gym– the consultation fee you may be charged will be worth every penny. It’s important to stretch regularly, and you’ll want to stretch the various areas of your body to ensure that you hit your entire body in a one-week span. Do stretches for the upper body − that includes your neck and shoulders, as well as the top half of your back and chest. Pay attention to all of your lower body too: the lower half of your back, your thighs, calves, knees, hamstrings, hips and ankles. Sign me up! Certain activities can help with your overall flexibility. Walking is a fantastic way to get your heart rate up and warm up those joints and muscles. Go at it solo or with a group of friends. Take a walk outdoors or do some laps around the closest mall. Cycling is also a wonderful full-body workout that will help improve your flexibility. There are lots of different classes in which you can enrol to help amp up your flexibility, too. Swimming is great, as it works out your whole body from head to toe. Yoga and Pilates offer great health benefits as well, and will definitely contribute to making you more flexible. Flexibility is at the core Flexibility is crucial if you want to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Without it, you will be extremely limited in the activities which you can do. You could also be more prone to injury if your flexibility is hindered. Make sure that your exercises and workouts put a regular emphasis on flexibility, and only good things will result from that. 44 | www.snowbirds.org
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