Active Aging

12 ACTIVE AGING WEEK | OCTOBER 3-9, 2022 Move More, Sit Less & Feel Better BY TODD LEWYS S ince the dawn of time, physical activity has played a huge role in maintaining our physical and mental health. And in the wake of a pandemic that forced us to move less, it's time to get into the habit moving again, says Active Aging in Manitoba's (AAIM) master trainer and aging consultant, Linda Brown. "Simply put, activity improves longevity," she says. "If exercise were a pill, it would be the most prescribed pill worldwide, because it helps you stay young." There's no end to the benefits that leading an active life provides, adds Brown. "The physical and mental benefits of regular exercise are huge," Brown says. "It reduces the incidence of heart disease, bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, improves circulation and reduces stress and anxiety through socialization. Mobility improves, as does strength. Remember, use it or lose it." What's the downside to not getting enough exercise? "Studies have shown that sitting for hours at a time is like smoking a pack of cigarettes. The detriment to a person's health is huge, especially those 55 years of age and older." That being the case, the importance of regular exercise can't be emphasized enough. "The guideline is 150 minutes a week," she says. "There are lots of way to build physical activity into your daily routine." Which is to say you don't necessarily have to get your exercise in big chunks. "You can break it down to 20 minutes or so a day seven days a week, or 30 minutes a day five days a week. You can even break it down to doing little bites of exercise 10 minutes at a time. For example, you could go for a walk, do a little gardening or clean out a corner of the garage," Brown explains. "You can even get up from your desk and do a minute or two of squats." CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 Doing some tai chi in the park is a wonderful way to improve core strength and coordination.

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