I’m 62 now, and I’ve been moving my body in one way or another for over 50 years.
When I was a kid I used to run with my dad, and when I was 13 he gave me a Yoga book that I practiced from for years. Later on I even became a fitness instructor.
For a couple of decades I also took dance classes pretty seriously. Modern and jazz at first, and later Latin ballroom. I just loved it and went all in.
Over the years I’ve gone through phases with different kinds of movement. I remember doing serious lap swimming, an hour at a time, when I was pregnant with my second baby. I’ve also lifted weights for many years, not because I wanted to look a certain way but because I like the feeling of being strong.
It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing physically. I’ve had a broken tailbone, hairline fractures in my feet, broken toes, herniated discs, tendinitis, sciatica, lumbago, and a torn rotator cuff. Probably a few other things I’m forgetting, like a threatened miscarriage in my first pregnancy which required bedrest. I also worked out when I was a single mom
on welfare.
One thing I’ve learned along the way is that when I can’t move one part of my body, I move another. Movement has also been incredibly important for my mental and emotional Health since I was young.
Something I’ve found interesting in recent years, especially as I think about healthy Aging and Longevity, is the research on lifespan. According to summaries from MedlinePlus Genetics and the Mayo Clinic, only about 20–25% of how long we live is explained by genetics. A lot of the rest is influenced by Lifestyle and environment.
Of course, we don’t control everything about aging. But it does suggest that the things we do day to day matter.
If you’re thinking about exercising after 50, 60 or beyond, it doesn’t have to be complicated. A walk around the block, walking the dog, a beginner strength class, or a yoga video at home can all be good places to start.
And if you’re wondering whether it’s too late to start moving your body…
it really isn’t. Where are you on your movement journey?
#thisis62 #over60andfit #healthinfluencer
