As an expert in the field of health and fitness with a focus on fitness over fifty, I am often asked if it really is possible to have vibrant energy, health, and vitality over fifty. The answer is a resounding “yes!” And the inevitable follow up question is “how?” Well, I do have an awful lot to say about that, especially since I wrote an entire book on the subject, which happened to win two awards and became an Amazon #1Best Seller, but I digress.

However, we all have busy lives, and in the interest of keeping things brief I’m sharing 3 simple but highly effective tips that can help keep you strong, fit, and healthy at every stage of life. And the good news is that you can do them every single day in the privacy of your own home. So, here are the tips along with the benefits of each one.

1). Put a book on your head.

Books aren’t just for reading. Putting a book on your head is the oldest trick in the book (if you’ll pardon the pun) used by models and beauty queens to help them improve their posture, as well as giving them an elegant, gliding gait pattern.

Good posture is a vital component for strong bones and spine, for health, respiratory, circulatory, and other organ function. It will help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis as well as the dreaded dowagers hump. Besides, it makes you look better.

2). Get on the ball.

Sitting on a large exercise ball improves your balance, reflexes, posture, core strength, flexibility, and lights up your nervous system, in a good way. It will help make you more awake, alert, and give you more energy. Besides that, it makes you feel like a kid again. And it makes you feel better.

3). Get down on the floor.

I saved the best for last. I know, I can hear you groaning already. But the floor is your friend. Really. And the ability to get comfortable getting down on the floor (and back up again) is the motherlode of anti-Aging. It will help with your balance, flexibility, spatial awareness, joint mobility, and proprioception, which are the nerve receptors in our body and brain which help us know where we are in space. And it makes you feel stronger.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time on the floor, or if you have mobility or balance issues, you might want to seek the assistance of a licensed physical therapist to help you to make sure you stay safe. If you feel comfortable going it alone, it still might take you some time to manage to get on the floor (and back up again) easily and effortlessly, but don’t give up. You can work on it gradually, by using a sturdy piece of furniture that can help support you as you gently lower yourself down to the floor and help you get back up again. There are many reasons why I am so passionate about getting down on the floor every single day, and I have a lot more to say on the subject, but I think I’ll save that for another day.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I’m happy to help!

Originally Published on https://www.cherylilov.com/blog/

Chery lIlov PT, GCFP

Cheryl Ilov is an author, speaker, dancer, martial artist, and physical therapist. She is also a former chronic pain patient who began a journey of self-discovery and self-healing after her medical team informed her that she would never recover. They were wrong.

Cheryl fired her medical team and found her own path to health and healing, as well as a journey of life-long learning. Her areas of expertise include the art of healing through movement, personal empowerment, and fitness over fifty. She is also the host of The FemiNinja Project podcast, which focuses on overcoming obstacles, personal empowerment, restoring human dignity, and alternative health and healing.