As we get older, many of us are more careful with our physical activities. We read in magazines and see on the news that when a senior citizen has a bad fall and breaks a bone it can lead to a rapid decline in immunity and overall health. Even at age 56, I look for where the handrails are on stairs and how slick the trails are before I go on a hike. I have a knee replacement on my right leg, so I am learning how to not test my utmost limits. Who am I proving this all to anyway? When I was younger, I believe my ego got in my own way. I no longer run marathons. I choose to get the same cardiovascular effort through hiking and hot yoga.
We need to practice thinking before we act, taking the time to plan our activities for the day. It will help us prevent injuries. Careless movement can be damaging in many ways. We can, however, improve our balance and strength with mindful movement activities like yoga, barre exercises, ballet, Pilates, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and other slow stretch and strength activities. Many of our slow movement options can help us really focus on one thing at a time. When we focus on one thing with intensity, it is called mindfulness.
A sharp mind helps you to think — and stay — on your feet.
"We need careful planning of our movements, decision making, reaction time, and attention," says Brad Manor, Ph.D., an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Mobility and Falls Program, Hebrew SeniorLife of Boston. "Staying mentally active is very important to avoiding falls. Keeping the mind fit keeps us mentally sharp and helps us to navigate the ever-shifting obstacle course of the world." I think a sharp mind and a positive attitude do wonders for the whole person, and if I do lose my balance and fall, my positive outlook will heal my broken body faster than if I was a sourpuss.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube
We need to practice thinking before we act, taking the time to plan our activities for the day. It will help us prevent injuries. Careless movement can be damaging in many ways. We can, however, improve our balance and strength with mindful movement activities like yoga, barre exercises, ballet, Pilates, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and other slow stretch and strength activities. Many of our slow movement options can help us really focus on one thing at a time. When we focus on one thing with intensity, it is called mindfulness.
A sharp mind helps you to think — and stay — on your feet.
"We need careful planning of our movements, decision making, reaction time, and attention," says Brad Manor, Ph.D., an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Mobility and Falls Program, Hebrew SeniorLife of Boston. "Staying mentally active is very important to avoiding falls. Keeping the mind fit keeps us mentally sharp and helps us to navigate the ever-shifting obstacle course of the world." I think a sharp mind and a positive attitude do wonders for the whole person, and if I do lose my balance and fall, my positive outlook will heal my broken body faster than if I was a sourpuss.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube
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