sielbleu.ie

Tag: exercise for over 55s

  • Why We All Need to Improve Our Posture

    Why We All Need to Improve Our Posture

    Back pain? It’s probably from your posture!

    Good posture is something we were always told to have as children and for good reason. Good posture keeps your body functioning in the correct way. With good postures comes well-balanced muscles and can help you prevent injuries. Due to our sedentary lifestyle, it is almost impossible to always have good posture. With that being said there are ways we can try and better our posture. For older adults to have good posture it can help with chronic back pain and other aches and pains.

    For seniors, the largest cause of poor posture is physical inactivity. Injuries and falls also contribute to bad posture, due to the body trying to overcompensate and fix the injury but maybe in an incorrect way. Another issue is chronic pain. Arthritis and similar conditions can deter people from exercising. However, even with a chronic condition exercise can help with relieving pain.

    Every muscle in our body has an effect on each other. When we hurt a muscle, the other muscles try and take the pressure off the injured area, this can cause other muscles to become fatigued. This is the case with most people’s lower back pain. Bad posture is what causes most of our back pain. Slouching in a chair is one of the worst things to do for back pain. The position can cause unnecessary and excessive pressure on joints and muscles. It may feel like it revives pressure at that moment, but it is doing more harm than good. If you are watching TV or using a computer, try to always be aware of your posture.

    To help improve your posture and decrease back pain, participate in balancing programs that will increase your stability. The best exercising in a balance class include forms of strength and flexibility training. Another way to test your posture is to look at the chair you sit in. You want to have a chair that decreases the urge to slouch. If your chair encourages bad posture, maybe look into a more supportive chair.

    The best thing you can do to help improve your posture is to stand up and move around several times a day. Try light stretching at least once a day to keep your back and other muscles loose. It is extremely important for older adults to have good posture. Attaining good posture can be a long process, but the health benefits are worth the time and effort.

  • There Are Other Ways to Exercise Than Going to a Gym

    There Are Other Ways to Exercise Than Going to a Gym

    It’s OK to Not Want to Go A Traditional Gym

    When people say “just go to a gym and start exercising” that is much easier said than done. Traditional gyms are intimidating. You can feel like people are constantly watching you exercise. It is also hard to know what exercises to do at massive gyms. Many people with a chronic disease or condition can feel judged due to being out of breath. It is completely normal to feel shortness of breath, especially if you have a lung condition like COPD.

    There are many different activities you can do to exercise than going to a gym. Walking, at home exercises and attending specific classes for adults over 55 can help you get back into exercising. You don’t always have to go to a gym to exercise. Finding the right environment to exercise is just as important as exercise. The best and most enjoyable workouts are the ones when you feel the most comfortable.

    Having a comfortable environment helps reduce stress and anxiety and you will enjoy the activities more. If you are worried about people judging, find a friend or people in a similar situation. Some people feel most comfortable exercising by themselves. Everyone is different so people will feel comfortable in different environments. There is a lot to be said about exercising with someone. It helps you keep your motivation and can be more enjoyable. If you are wanting to relax or reduce tension working out by yourself might be the best option.

    Not all traditional gyms are intimidating, actually many gyms are senior friendly. Look for a gym that has senior discounts, classes or a buddy system. The buddy system is when you are paired up with someone similar to your activity level that way you can motivate each other while still enjoying the workout. A new trend growing worldwide is senior only gyms. Most of these gyms restrict memberships to a certain age. They also provide low impact machines specifically designed for older adults.

    Going to a traditional gym can be intimidating, but there are other ways you can exercise. Check out our exercise classes.

  • Challenge Yourself to Better Yourself

    Challenge Yourself to Better Yourself

    Push yourself to do something unexpected!

    It can be difficult to challenge yourself. Once we are in a comfortable routine we think, “Why would I want to do something else, I like what I am doing now?” but pushing yourself to new limits can be refreshing and rewarding. Challenging yourself through exercise by pushing yourself a bit harder; we aren’t saying to push yourself to the extreme but make your exercise a little bit more demanding. If you want to walk in a 5k, but don’t feel physically fit enough, now is the time to set that as your challenge. We all have an activity we want to someday complete. There is no better time than now.

    Setting a challenge as a goal gives us the spark in our life, many people looking for as they get older. For some older adults, they can feel like there is a decline in their physical abilities, independence or cognitive abilities. When you add something new that completely switches up your routine it can be daunting but necessary. We all love routines but there are times when making yourself uncomfortable is exactly what we need.

    The challenge doesn’t have to be to run a marathon or lift a certain amount of weight. It can be as easy as walking back from the supermarket or being flexible enough to put your socks on. The most important thing to remember with challenging yourself through exercise is you have to want to do it. If someone else is telling you to do it, you will not have the motivation to follow through with it. You also have to believe in yourself and believe you can make a change. We have the people in our lives that tell us we can make a change if we just try, but deep down we have to believe in ourselves too. If you don’t believe that you can walk in a 5k then most likely you won’t, but if you attack it head on and constantly remind yourself you can do anything you finish the 5k with ease.

    The key to challenging yourself through exercise success is to make smaller goals that are measurable. Let’s say you want to complete a 5km walk with the ParkRun, starting small and building up will be the key to your success. Small measurable goals such as walking 500m every second day and building on that achievement week by week will lead to not only achieving your goal but an overall healthier you. Having a plan and schedule helps motivate and encourages consistency.

    We understand that setting a challenge for yourself can be tough but the overwhelming feeling of accomplishing something you never thought you could accomplish is worth the uncomfortableness and is extremely rewarding.

    Did you know you don’t need to run a ParkRun? Walkers are more than welcome. Check out our friends at ParkRun for more information about a “run” near you.

    ***Disclaimer: The information in this post is for reference only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical expertise or advice. If you have any concerns about your own or another’s health then please contact your doctor.

  • Spring’s Moving in So Get Moving

    Spring’s Moving in So Get Moving

    Start exercising outside this Spring!

    With the faint feeling of spring right around the corner, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the nicer days. We are leaving winter behind us and getting ready for hopefully warmer and sunnier days. We get it, exercising in the winter can be difficult, but with the days getting longer and flowers blooming its time to go outdoors and enjoy Spring. For older adults exercising outdoors can be daunting, but the fresh air will help add a change to your life and refresh your want to exercise.

    In the study “Outdoor physical activity and self-rated health in older adults living in two regions of the U.S.” addresses the effect on older people exercising outside and the benefits they experience. The study found that people who exercise outside have a better and longer workout than those who work out inside. Exercising outside can be a short walk or even sitting in nature while doing any sort of movement. Improvements include help with vitamin D deficiency, reduced depression and increased bone health. Next time you are working on your exercises at home, try doing them in nature.

    How to find motivation?

    The best and easiest way to begin exercising is to find a friend. Making plans with other people to meet at the park or an exercise class will increase your motivation and help you stay dedicated. You are far less likely to cancel on your friend, but it is simple to cancel on yourself. There is always an excuse when you are by yourself but going with other people will make sure you are accountable. A friend can also be a furry friend. Walking your dog is plenty of exercise, they too will hold you accountable for your daily walk.

    Sometimes we all need a change. If you are feeling down from the winter blues, now is the time to change. By mixing your routine, you will find the motivation to keep exercising. If you like walking, try changing your route or scenery. Not all change has to be extreme, small changes here and there can be enough to find your motivation. By keeping your exercise routine diverse and varied you will not become as bored with your daily routine.

    Any form of exercising is better than nothing at all. For older adults exercising outdoors can make a change in your life, breathing some fresh air rejuvenating your mentality.

    You can also add a spring in your step and join a Siel Bleu class near you!

    ***Disclaimer: The information in this post is for reference only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical expertise or advice. If you have any concerns about your own or another’s health, then please contact your doctor.

  • Award-Winning Campaign — I Can

    Award-Winning Campaign — I Can

    We won an award at the Nutramino Health and Fitness Awards!

    On Friday 8 March at the Nutramino Health and Fitness Awards, Siel Bleu Ireland won the Health and Fitness Campaign of The Year for our “I Can – Empowering Through Exercise” campaign! The goal of this campaign was to challenge people’s mindsets that just because you are older or living with a disease does not mean that you cannot experience the life-changing benefits of exercise. We were also delighted to have won second place for our Exercise, COPD & Me project in the Inclusive Health and Fitness Award!

    This is the second year Nutramino has hosted the award ceremony that aims to acknowledge the extraordinary accomplishments of health and fitness professionals in the industry. All finalists want to promote a healthy lifestyle and inspire and create a healthier lifestyle for Irish communities. This event helped bring awareness and understanding of our current and past goals and accomplishments for the past several years. We are honored to be included in a community that is always looking to make Ireland a healthier and more active country.

    Our “I Can,” campaign, is changing the way people look at exercise for older adults and encouraging more older generations to become active for the first time in their lives. We are trying to break down the barrier of fear and access so people understand that the CAN exercise and maybe they can even change their life.

    “I Can” comes in many different experiences. It can be as simple as standing up from a chair without help or being able to tie your own shoes and even going as far as 73-year-old Jennifer who can do 150 squats in one session!

    We will be bringing back the campaign for its second year at the end of June so keep your eye out on Facebook and Twitter for more information or follow the #icanwithsbi

    Huge thank you to the Nutramino Health and Fitness Awards and the judges for the award and of course a massive thank you to all the volunteers, staff and most importantly our participants who help to smash myths about older people and exercise.

  • The Importance of Active Ageing

    The Importance of Active Ageing

    The Importance of Active Ageing

    Ageing is wrongly associated with decline, when in reality it just means we have to work that bit harder to look after ourselves. The answer is, active ageing! As we age it’s important that we exercise regularly, look after our nutrition and stay active within the community and our social network. The longer we neglect any of these areas of our life the more difficult it can be to resume a more active lifestyle, but it is never too late to change bad habits!

    Exercising daily and remaining physically active is what helps us to retain our independence and which can ultimately enable us to live on our own terms. The World Health Organisation encourages up to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week. That may sound like a lot but it’s just half an hour, 5 days a week.

    Such targets can be achieved through moderate physical activity, such as walking while participation in a more vigorous exercise programme may be another person’s desired method of physical activity. As we age, resistance or weight bearing exercises are particularly beneficial in targeting muscle wastage and maintaining bone density and strength. No one mode of physical activity is right or wrong – the key is to find a form of physical activity that you enjoy enough to keep doing, whilst targeting key areas associated with age related decline. That means including flexibility (stretching), endurance, strength, and balance exercises in our routine.

    As we age and become less active our metabolism slows and our energy output decreases. As outlined by the Institute of Medicine our body’s ability to process and utilise the nutrients we need to maintain healthy bones and to prevent muscle wastage decreases. This means that we may in fact need to boost the amount of nutrients and minerals we are absorbing into our body. Muscle wastage and loss of bone density (osteoporosis) can ultimately contribute to falls and loss of mobility and independence. From the age of 60 around one third of women and two thirds of men will have reduced muscle mass.

    In practical terms what we must do is ensure that our food intake matches our output. Our daily activity levels will often drop as we age and live a more sedentary lifestyle, but portion sizes remain the same. More importantly though is the content of what we choose to eat. We must follow balanced and varied diets containing fresh fruit and vegetables for fibre, protein rich foods which can maintain muscle mass and bone strength, dairy, healthy oils, whole grain foods and plenty of fluids all of which provide essential nutrients and minerals to our bodies.

    Finally we must remain active within our community and social circles. Social isolation can be hugely damaging to our psychological health and as we age and it’s important that we have a support network around us. People are living longer but in smaller family networks and in a society that isn’t as familiar with its neighbours. Increasingly studies are identifying a correlation between a lack of social engagement and the development of heart disease and other medical conditions aside from more obvious negative effects such as depression and anxiety. That is why we should get active, get out and about in our local community. We have nothing to lose but everything to gain!

    Why not try a community class in your area or a one to one class.