AGEility Matters
Mobile Vancouver, BC, Canada

Whether it’s ascending and descending stairs or walking in varied terrain, elevation is beneficial to our health. https://www.berkeleywellness.com//stair-climbing-how-get-m

Well I didn't expect to read this! I was looking for a story to corroborate my impression of seniors in Japan (largest 'over 65' population in the world) after 8 days of observing them walking the many flights of stairs required for the metro system, walking briskly doing their daily tasks, maintaining 'joint health' weight, etc. Another reminder about balance - it's those components plus . . . "The country’s attitude towards food, universal healthcare, and respect for the elderly undoubtedly contributes to the famed longevity of Japanese people, but exercise habits, apart from moderate activity such as walking for the elderly, appear to play a much smaller role than one might expect."

Balance tip for women especially: practice your balance in all the shoes you wear. When we think of balance exercises we usually want to be barefoot or wearing runners, but what about that summer wedding or graduation celebration? We can find ourselves in outdoor/indoor venues with lots of different surfaces, children darting around, etc. Safety first of course - make sure you have something sturdy to grab when you practice. Exercise suggestions:https://go4life.nia.nih.gov/exercises/balance

First, good news: you don't have to become a triathlete to get these effects. The rule of thumb is you want to get three to four times a week exercise, minimum 30 minutes an exercise session, and you want to get aerobic exercise in. That is, get your heart rate up. And the good news is, you don't have to go to the gym to get a very expensive gym membership. Add an extra walk around the block in your power walk. You see stairs -- take stairs. And power-vacuuming can be as good as the aerobics class that you were going to take at the gym.