Originally posted at: Erin Lichy’s Purple Knit Skirt Set

If you’ve ever questioned whether Pilates is suitable for you as you embark on your golden years, let me assure you: age is just a number, and Pilates can be the key to unlocking a whole new chapter of vibrant living.

But how exactly does Pilates help in your senior years? Let me explain in more detail.

The concept of “age is just a number” became evident to me through personal experience and observations. Prior to the pandemic, I taught in-person Pilates classes to two distinct groups: clients aged 20 to 45 years at a local Pilates studio and seniors aged 55 and above at a specialized Seniors center.

Despite the stark age contrast, I noticed a remarkable phenomenon. I would teach a group class for the younger studio clients, I would then deliver the exact same challenging class to my senior participants. To my amazement, these seniors not only embraced the exercises with enthusiasm but also demonstrated a level of proficiency that made the Pilates exercises appear effortless.

Change Is Inevitable

As we age, we can expect some changes to occur in our bodies. As with all things in life, change is inevitable, and this applies to our bodies as well. We have many seasons of life where our bodies change and we should embrace these changes, rather than fight them.

However, expecting aches and pains to be standard in your daily living as you approach your golden years shouldn’t be the case. I want to challenge the misconception that experiencing aches and pains is an inevitable consequence of the aging process.

It is crucial to debunk this myth and shift our attention toward a more informed perspective. This is why I believe that our bodies change as we age and this also applies to our workouts. By directing your efforts towards the adoption of suitable exercise regimens such as Pilates, which include crucial elements such as mobility work, functional movement, weight-bearing exercises, and balance training, you can positively influence your aging journey and mitigate the occurrence of pain.

Types of Exercise

Targeted mobility work enhances joint flexibility and range of motion, ensuring your body remains agile and adaptable. Incorporating functional movements into your exercise routine will cultivate strength and endurance that directly translates into your daily activities and tasks.

Weight-bearing exercises, on the other hand, are instrumental in maintaining bone density and preventing the onset of osteoporosis, a common concern in the aging population. Lastly, engaging in balance training not only enhances your stability and coordination but also reduces the risk of falls, a significant contributor to injury among seniors.

When I design my Pilates classes, they focus on all of the above – mobility, functional movement, low-impact weight-bearing exercises and balance work. I take great care to ensure my Pilates classes are safe and effective while lessening the impact on your joints.

Be Proactive

I studied Gerontology at University and have a passion for helping others over the age of 50 live life with energy and vitality. I firmly believe that including appropriate Pilates exercises in your golden years will enhance your life for years to come.

By adopting this comprehensive approach to exercise, you can proactively embrace the aging process and gracefully navigate through the years, experiencing improved overall well-being and a notable reduction in pain. It is imperative to recognize that age should not confine us to a life of discomfort, but rather empower us to live with vitality and resilience.

If you are interested in trying a Pilates class, try a FREE Full Body Pilates class from my On Demand Studio.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What have you found to be the most important factor in helping your body to move well? Do you find strength training hard to stick with? How have you incorporated exercise into your routine?

I have just handed a small fortune to my offspring to help them to buy properties and, in one case, to contribute towards IVF treatment.

We all do it, if we are in a position to, of course. My mother was the same: she was generous to me in her latter years while skimping on herself.

In This Regard I Have Become Like My Mother

The generation that lived through WWII and its aftermath were frugal to a fault. With rationing and austerity, they had to be. The problem – if it is indeed a problem – is that frugality can become a habit, and a restriction. My mother admonished me time and again for what she viewed as my extravagance: “That’s the second item of clothing you’ve bought this year!”

I Can’t Afford It

“I can’t afford it” is a complex phrase which could mean what it says, or it could well mean “I don’t want to afford it” or even “I don’t want to… [go on holiday, go to the theatre, treat myself, do something I’ve never done before, challenge myself].” In other words, it can be an excuse Not to Do Things.

I’m Aware This May Be True in My Case

While I’m handing out a five-figure sum each to my son and daughter, I am being ultra-frugal with myself. I hardly ever go on holidays. I don’t take taxis except in extreme cases, even when I am exhausted or lost.

I rarely buy clothes, and I don’t go out as often as I could or go on yoga retreats or join workshops or study courses on new and interesting topics. None of this is because I can’t afford it, although I often tell myself it is. Some of it is to do with indulgence, and some of it, as my mother was wont to say, is because I often think I’m too old.

Am I Too Old?

Perhaps I am too old to be taking unnecessary overseas trips or indulging in expensive dinners, and I have enough clothes to do me for the rest of my life, thank you.

In other words, I have effectively written myself off.

Oddly enough, I don’t think I was aware of this until I handed over those small fortunes. I had genuinely convinced myself I couldn’t afford luxuries, I could barely get by with necessities.

It’s one thing to think I’m becoming my mother, it’s another to realise that I am depriving myself not out of altruism but cowardice. I’m too cowardly to join a group overseas trip. I’m too lazy to take myself out of an evening, and if I did buy myself a slap-up meal at some swanky joint, I would feel too guilty to enjoy it.

It’s Now or Never

I am still fit enough to get out and about without too much effort, and I am aware now that I’m in my late 70s that this may not be the case for much longer. It is far easier to sit back and tell oneself one is too old for new challenges, but we know that is not true, not yet. I still earn a living using my brain and my imagination as a writer and a teacher, I am still part of the world, sort of. But is that enough?

Nowadays, with all the deprivation and hardship – not to mention wars –  that surround us all the time, it is increasingly hard to justify any kind of unnecessary spending. What surplus income one is lucky enough to have could go towards a much worthier cause than our good selves.

Or is that just yet another excuse for not doing something?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

If you have saved up some money, would you spend it on yourself or give it away to children or worthy causes? If you prefer to pamper yourself, how would you go about it? Do you feel you’re too old or are you scared/lazy to go about doing things you like?

Photo: @meredithmarks

Originally posted at: Meredith Marks’ Pink Outfit

Photo: @brynn_whitfield @dominomag

Originally posted at: Brynn Whitfield’s White Floral Tie Sleeve Dress