The word is out that we live in a very youth oriented society. It may well be true when it comes to fashion and other things but it is not true when it comes to exercise. Fortunately, there are hundreds (thousands of real) of examples of people who continue to practice in their 80, 90 and beyond. They realize that they do not have to spar with punching dummy every day or take gym bag and head to the sports facilities to make exercise part of their lives. They found just something physical that they enjoy and do it. They swear it keeps the spirit of the young and is good for their bodies too.
Amazing Indian man named Fauji Singh recently completed what he says will be his last marathon even though he will continue to run “on his own” daily. There are some amazing statistics about this man. He did not even begin to walk until he was five years old because of the weakness in his legs. Currently, Singh is 102 years young. He did not start competing in marathons until 89 his birthday and did so as a way to combat depression that engulfed him after the death of his wife and one of his sons. He runs daily. Can you imagine someone his age run daily when many twenty and thirty years under his vegging on the sofa of being entertained by mindless TV with only exercise their legs food or to go to the bathroom. Singh does not require “secret” or magic formula for their commitment to practice. He argues that it was that “he came back to life” and allowed him to connect with the business alive after so much sadness and turmoil had darkened his days. He credits running to save his life and gives the following advice to anyone who cares to hear it. “Laughter and happiness is what life should be about, what is the cure for everything.” He shows wisdom even more than the number of his years – you just have to love this man.
Singh provides an example that more of us to follow. Some estimates put the number of people aged 65 and 74 who do not exercise as 3 of 4. It is frightening and sad statistics especially since it has been proven that exercise is just what is needed to ward off many of the problems that come about aging. While there seems to be more pervasive attitude of “being too old or too tired or too sick” to the practice of many older, it should be the life of almost any of us, regardless of age. Chhand Dutta PhD. Who serves as head of the Clinical Gerontology Branch of the National Institute on aging advises older practice as a way to prevent bone loss, improve balance and coordination, lift your spirits, boost your memory, and relieve the symptoms of many chronic conditions. This progress is almost everyone would like to see.
What is to keep older people to make exercise part of their daily lives? For many it may be because they have never found it to be an important part of their lives even when they were younger and feel that it is useless to try to incorporate it now. Facts, however, do not support that thinking. We see evidence that it is never too late to start exercising habits. Start slowly. Find something suitable for you or your interest and set a date to start – the sooner the better. As Singh Fauji, you may find that it will give you a whole new lease of life.