It is Mental Well-being in May at Women Living Well After 50 so let’s start by giving some love to our body,mind and spirit with a short stretching/yoga style session for Self-Care Sunday. I love how my body, mind and spirit feels when I stretch and do a yoga practice.
Balance and flexibility as we age is so important for functional fitness and to maintain bone strength. We need to keep or bodies strong to
- Be able to bend down to pick up or put on our shoes,
- Be able to stretch up to the cupboards,
- Be able to carry groceries,
- Be able to squat to sit on the toilet unaided
- Maintain good core strength, posture and balance to avoid falls.
- Avoid Osteoporosis
A combination of Strength training for maintaining muscle mass(no you don’t have to lift heavy weights)and stretching/balance work 2-3times per week combined with the Heart Foundation recommended 150 minutes per week of cardio for heart health will ensure you age and live well.
Research shows that moving your body with regular exercise not only keeps your body strong and healthy but lifts your mood and calms the mind through the release of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) such as serotonin and dopamine, chemicals released in your brain that make you feel good. Hormones such as endorphins are also released giving you that ‘high’ at the end of a session.
3 Comments
This was a great wind down after my 1.5hour bike ride today Sue, many thanks for sharing this workout.
So pleased you enjoyed the session, Deb. I’ve a couple more to do throughout the month for you to enjoy.
I felt better just watching your stretching video. I like the pose where your head touches the mat, your legs are bent under you and your arms are reaching back at your sides. That would be a good one for my lower back. Going to try it. Will share this with PC. He is all about stretching lately.
P.S. Love your strappy top. So cute.