Exercise is one of those things we can love and hate all at the same time.
For some, being active is incredibly easy, it is how they are wired.
My grandfather for instance rarely sat down. He was a busy man, going all of the time. This was who he was it was never difficult or something he had to make himself do.
Being this way served him well as he lived to the wonderful age of 92.
But what about the rest of us, those who have to push, those who struggle? Exercise can be a daunting, even exhausting endeavour.
Whether there is no inclination, limited skills, or a lack of success, these can be deterring factors and why many people fail time and time again.
If you are reading this and thinking “yup, that’s me,” you are not alone.
So what can we do to change, to include activity into our daily lives?
Yes I said “daily.” That is a key point.
Our bodies are meant to move and be used, they need to be pushed and stretched to maintain heart health, flexibility, muscle mass and bone density as we age.
To achieve this, all it takes is one small adjustment in lifestyle today to see tremendous long-term effects down the line.
To start, choose activities based on your natural enjoyment and find ways to keep yourself accountable.
What works for me and my husband is participating in activities we like doing together. We both love volleyball. When we join a league we have so much fun that we can’t wait for the next game.
We push and challenge each other. We’ve found what works.
If you love being outdoors maybe walking or biking are for you. If you love to swim try an aqua-fit class. Some may appreciate more solitary activities such as yoga or cross-country skiing.
If you struggle carrying through with your daily routines, jot them on a calendar, ask a friend to join you or pay to participate in a class; do things that will help you succeed.
Try a new book or work-out video, check the library for materials like The One Minute Workout by Martin Giblal, Ph.D. or Pilates for Living by Harri Angell. For something different try Off Course; Inside the Mad, Muddy World of Obstacle Course Racing by Erin Beresini.
The choices are limitless, for any age, any energy level and the beauty is finding what works for you.
My husband said something profound to me one day, “It is not an option to not be active. It is like eating or sleeping, it is something our bodies need to survive and has to be done.”
When he said this I thought about Dick Van Dyke and the book he wrote entitled Keep Moving ; and Other Tips and Truths About Aging. Even though he discusses many topics in the book, the key point is keep moving.
Just get started and it will change your life!
Carly Tanasichuk is an Assistant Community Librarian at the Summerland branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.
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