THINGS TO DO
MAKING by Sean McCarthy
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
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f that’s your belief, then you’re in the company of a lot of health professionals. Creating a healthy future can have simple and easy beginnings. Everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, breathing, and moving can be used to improve how you feel and reduce risks to your wellbeing down the road. If you think being healthy is a rigorous endeavor, you will be pleased to know that you can get started by making small adjustments to things you have been doing all of your life. But you’re advised to start as soon as possible. “It’s not about the sit-up, or the push-up, or the pull-up – it’s about the show-up,” says Jon Leaver of Jon Leaver Wellness in Westport and Wareham.
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“Some days you’ll have more energy, and some days you’ll have less energy, but it’s all about doing it. Just begin doing it.” And one key to making progress with your health is making physical activity a routine. “Increase your range of motion by being active every day,” Leaver says. “With age we tend to slow down and use our bodies less, but as we exercise there is an unwinding of the tissues that takes place. There are different ways to be active: strength training, aerobics, cardio-vascular, yoga, or Tai-Chi, and more. You can join a YMCA or a gym. My advice is to find a buddy who wants to do it with you and commit to that person. Meet at a specific time, and even if they don’t show up you’ll already be there.” There can be enjoyable social aspects to getting your daily exercise. “We have a welcoming atmosphere for seniors,” says Micki Poulton, Senior Director of Health and Wellness for YMCA Southcoast. “We cater to seniors with our classes so that they’ll feel comfortable with their peers. There’s a camaraderie.”
January 2023 | The South Coast Insider
Y H T L HEA ES C I O H C The YMCA offers many classes for people over 55, including areas such as strengthbuilding, flexibility, mobility, stability, and balancing. There are classes in culinary arts with demonstrations and recipes as well as classes in Diabetes prevention. There are aqua-fit classes that assist in recovery from injuries that are easy on the joints. In addition, there are classes in line dancing and zumba/latin dancing.
STRETCHING OUT
Another exercise option is yoga, a practice that is growing significantly in popularity, and has shown numerous health benefits. “With yoga you’re using your breath to establish a mind-body connection,” says yoga instructor Christine Maiato FitzGerald of Dartmouth. “It’s easy to get introduced, with forms such as gentle yoga and chair yoga, and you can go at your own pace.” FitzGerald says that while you can do yoga on your own, the best option for beginners is to get started by attending classes at a local yoga studio. She also