Is Exercise
the Key to the Fountain of Youth?
When
surveying the Cooper Fitness Center, it is not extraordinary to find
a 70 year-old man participating in a spin class or an 85 year-old
woman training for a 5K. With the average age of our member
population being 48, the Fitness Center is an ideal place to observe
the impact that an active lifestyle can have on a person’s quality
of life, their ability to maintain good health and add years to
their life.
Centenarians
are more prevalent today and when interviewed by reporters of
magazines and newspapers, many will attribute their long life span
to their regular physical activity.
It appears that people are breaking the mold of the
“elderly” stereotype, by engaging in hobbies that keep them on
the move. Resistance training and cardiovascular exercise ward off
many of the debilitating diseases that are commonly associated with
increasing age such as heart disease, adult onset diabetes, and
osteoporosis.
Many
experts believe that many of the traits that we recognize as the
natural aging process are aggravated by a lack of physical activity.
Exercise seems to halt or at least slow down many of these factors,
including cardiovascular impairment, reduction of muscular
coordination, decrease of lean muscle mass, and the occurrence of
sleep problems.
Current
exercise recommendations are, for aerobic activity, slowly
progressing to 30-60 minutes for three to five days/week, and for
resistance training, progressing to at least three days per week. A
flexibility program is also recommended, but it is better to perform
stretching exercises after your workout because your muscles are
warm. Of course, if you have not been exercising regularly, check
with your doctor before beginning. And, as stated in one of my
previous articles, it is never too late to start.
Along with eating a well balanced diet, staying away from tobacco, and handling life’s stresses in a positive manner, exercise may subtract years from your life, making you feel young and vibrant, regardless of your chronological age.
As a key component in the success of Cooper Ventures, Jill Armayor is the Corporate Wellness Director at Perot Systems in north Dallas. She holds certifications from The Cooper Institute in Biomechanics of Strength Training, Physical Fitness Specialist, and Health Promotion Director. Among her many aspirations, she loves running, cooking, and creating artistic murals and paintings.
For more information about services provided by Cooper
Ventures, go to: http://www.CooperVentures.net.