The key to ongoing health? Staying active

By Laurel T. Silver

 

Being over 60 is no reason to give up on physical activity and frequent exercise. However, age related restrictions can often make it difficult to establish and maintain a healthy routine. Fortunately, there are a variety of options for men and women of varying ages and physical abilities.

Staying active has many proven physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. For seniors, regular exercise has shown not only to improve health, but also to improve one’s ability to keep up with normal daily routines. According to Tiffany Amrich, Psy.D. “Quality of life is enhanced by participating to the best of your ability in activities you enjoy, continuing to stay current and interacting with friends and family.” (Tiffany Amrich via 305 fit,Wellness Magazine, Active Aging: The Benefits of Staying Active For Seniors.)

With this in mind, it can be helpful to find a way of staying active that fits your schedule and ability. In addition, finding classes and programs that appeal to personal interests can make exercising feel like less of a chore.

The town of Danville offers a large selection of health and fitness programs designed specifically for seniors. Softball leagues, yoga classes, and walking trips are just a few of the many activities available. In addition, The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) take place on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month and offer moderately paced hikes in and around the Sycamore Valley. These hikes are open to all, and while donations are encouraged, attendance is free.

While information about these programs is available on the town of Danville’s website, more detailed descriptions can be found in the Silver Streak Newsletter. This is a monthly newsletter for seniors that offers information about upcoming classes and programs. The current issue of the newsletter can be viewed online at www.danville.ca.gov/Seniors. For those who wish to sign up for featured events, a registration form is available at the end of each issue.

For those looking for a less strenuous way of staying active and healthy, yoga for seniors is becoming an increasingly popular choice. It has sparked such an interest among the senior population, that Duke Integrative Medicine is now offering courses specifically designed to help yoga instructors gear their classes to fit the needs of older adults. According to the program’s specialists, yoga for seniors is not only relaxing for the mind and body, but it has also proven to be beneficial in relieving physical pain that can accompany aging.

The Danville Yoga and Wellness Center offers yoga classes for seniors on several weekday mornings. For more information, please visit the center’s website at danvilleyogawellnesscenter.com/yoga.

Whether it’s hiking, sports, or yoga, it is important to make exercise a part of your routine no matter what your age is. For seniors, physical activity can be particularly important as it may increase ability and improve both mental and physical health. Making an effort to become actively engaged in an exercise routine can significantly improve life and help to alter some of the negative effects that often come with aging.

For a complete list of Senior events in the Danville area, please visit the website’s senior events page at: www.danville.ca.gov/Seniors/ Or contact the Danville Senior Center at (925) 314-3490.

            For more information on the yoga Master Program at Duke Integrative Medicine, please visit their website at www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/professional-training/therapeutic-yoga-for-seniors.

  exercise, health, seniors, staying active, yoga