Healthy, Graceful Ageing

Healthy Ageing.

Most people aim to age gracefully and try to stay as young as possible for as long as possible.

Healthy ageing includes much more than how we look on a surface level. It includes our internal health, mental sanity, preventing frailty and ensuring we can maintain independence into our old age.

The WHO refers to healthy ageing as: ‘Healthy Ageing is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.’

There are many definitions for the term, but the most important steps we can take is to ensure our nutrition is optimal and we are moving everyday which includes activities that challenge our aerobic and functional strength abilities.

Reducing or managing stress is also an excellent idea!

The graph above highlights how important it is to take care of ourselves to ensure we do not have to have a 'period' of poor health in our older age. © Public Health England

What should I do?

Brainstorm ideas and activities that you enjoy, and try incorporate certain aspects into them:

- regular walking/ running

- home body weight exercises/ strength training at the gym

- core strength training

- balance training (start on two legs with one in front of the other and try close your eyes, then progress to standing on one leg and close your eyes)

Remember that everything gets better with time and practice. If you start now, you will be balancing perfectly in your old age.

" You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old"

If you are unsure of what to do- chat to a Biokineticist or physical therapist for a specific program.