Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

1st Photo + Info: @heatherdubrow

Originally posted at: Heather Dubrow’s Black Faux Fur Coat

As we all know, our bodies undergo changes as we age. Some of these changes can make maintaining an active life challenging. However, with the right knowledge and guidance, we can maintain or embrace a new exercise habit, even when we are over 60.

That one commitment can help us to get a bit more fit or help us to stay fit longer. And it will also expand and extend the possibilities for a truly enjoyable and fulfilling, long and healthy life.

We owe it to ourselves and to those we love to be as healthy and fit as we can be to ensure a quality life full of adventures and happy memories for many years to come.

Exercise Tips You Can Apply Today

Regular exercise is critical to maintain physical health, strength, and overall well-being, regardless of our age. But as we enter our 60s, it becomes especially important to adopt exercise as a regular part of our lives.

Routines that are tailored to our changing bodies can help us stay fit and also help us to prevent age-related illnesses and physical limitations.

For example, many exercises help improve overall physical health but also help reduce joint stiffness while enhancing cardiovascular health.

Certain exercises also help us to preserve our mobility, flexibility, and balance.

These are all qualities that are key to both physical and cognitive health as we age. That’s right, even our brains benefit from exercise.

Exercise Options for Women Over 60

It’s important that we

1. Start with activities that match our fitness level,
2. Consult with a healthcare professional if necessary, and
3. Listen to our bodies as we try out new things.

Here are some practical ways to begin including exercise in our daily lives:

Take Up Walking

Walking is a low-impact exercise that provides an excellent cardiovascular workout to improve heart health, enhance circulation, and boost mood. Start with shorter walks. Gradually increase the distance and intensity. Consider joining walking groups or finding scenic trails to make it a more mindful, enjoyable and social experience.

Water Time

Swimming and water aerobics are gentle on the joints, making them an ideal choice for women over 60. These activities provide cardiovascular benefits without putting excessive stress on the body. Water supports the body, reduces impact, and increases resistance, helping to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Many community centers and gyms offer water aerobics classes specifically designed for older adults.

How About Yoga and Pilates?

Yoga and Pilates are fantastic options for women over 60, as they focus on flexibility, strength, and balance. These mind-body practices also promote relaxation, stress reduction, and mental well-being. Both yoga and Pilates can be modified to accommodate different fitness levels and physical abilities. Consider joining classes specifically tailored for older adults or consult with a certified instructor to create a personalized routine.

Do Strength Training

Strength training is key for maintaining muscle mass and bone density, especially as we age. Engaging in weight-bearing exercises, such as using resistance bands, dumbbells, or bodyweight exercises, helps improve strength, balance, and posture. Strength training also aids in the prevention of osteoporosis and reduces the risk of falls and fractures. Start with lighter weights and gradually increase resistance over time, ensuring proper form and technique.

Another Option Is Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a gentle, low-impact exercise that combines flowing movements with deep breathing and mindfulness. It improves balance, flexibility, and mental focus. Tai Chi also helps reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and increase overall relaxation. Joining a Tai Chi class or following instructional videos can introduce you to the technique and help you gradually master the movements.

Health Screenings Are Essential for Women Over 60

As women age, the risk of developing chronic illnesses and diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis, increases.

Exercise is important. What’s equally critical? Staying up to date with regular health screenings, such as mammograms, bone density tests, and cholesterol checks.

These preventative measures can help detect any potential health issues early on, leading to better outcomes and care.

Regular check-ups with your medical care provider are also fundamental to maintaining optimal health.

They can offer vital information about any potential risks or concerns you may have and help you develop a personalized wellness plan to address them.

How to Stay Fit and Healthy as Women Over 60

As women over 60, we can take a huge step towards maintaining our health and wellness by incorporating exercise into our daily routine.

Equally important is staying current with health check-ups, routine preventative testing, vaccines, and having a full physical every few years to have a more in-depth assessment of a wider group of key health indicators.

It’s never too late to start leading a healthy lifestyle; the key is to commit to making choices that align with that priority most days, and to take pride in our efforts to stay fit, vibrant and alive.

Your future self will thank you for each step you take, no matter how small!

Surround yourself with others who put their health first, too, and watch your willpower and motivation soar!

Let’s Start a Conversation!

What exercise habits do you currently enjoy? Are there new active hobbies you hope to explore? How would you describe your activity level now? How would you like to maintain or change that? Do you have friends in mind who may want to support you and become an exercise accountability partner? What challenges do you face when trying to implement a regular fitness habit? Share your challenges with other readers, and let’s try to come up with winning strategies together.

Before I even get into this article, I’d like to share with all the readers that I am a New Yorker who has lived in five different countries for 30 years. I now reside in Austin, Texas, and have called it home for 13 years. None of my stories or features involve politics, religion, or ideology. I write about life and culture and share experiences I believe women our age will appreciate.

Medical Spa + More

That said, I recently was made aware of a lovely little medical spa (which offers more than just the medical part) named Kuya Wellness.

Let me say upfront that I am not paid to write this article. I simply like what they have to offer and thought others may want to check them out as well.

At the end of 2021, Kuya opened its doors to an eager public seeking a scientific and holistic regenerative approach to health. Kuya is not your traditional wellness center; it is a haven to elevate your healing journey. With 11,000 square feet of calm spaces, one quickly and easily drifts barefoot in and out of the two-story space.

Meg Dwyer, who oversees the Neurostimulation program, talked with me about what they do at the facility.

“EEGs are taken, and a brain map is sent to Dr. Tiff Thompson, who runs NeuroField. She has a Ph.D., QEEGD, BCN, LMFT, and is a clinical neuroscientist, licensed therapist, educator, and technologist. She is the founder and owner of the Santa Barbara clinic, NeuroField Neurotherapy, where she offers clinicians quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG)-based functional brain consulting.

“Dr. Thompson reads the electrical outputs – which neurons are over and under-firing, and a report is printed and analyzed. Our customers include people with concussions, traumatic brain injuries, OCD, and social anxiety who find this therapy helpful. The course is 10 sessions long.”

So, what procedures can you do at Kuya Wellness?

Ketamine Assisted Therapy

This is a six-session program facilitated by a medical doctor to help with mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. You can tailor this program in a multitude of ways. Regulating the nervous system while engaging with the Kuya community brings forth a wellspring of connectivity, something people lack, which is part of the reason mental health issues occur in the first place.

IV Infusion Therapy

Kuya offers a variety of boosters, from red blood cells to mood enhancements, relaxation, and alkaline balancing.

OPUS Sound Therapy

I had the pleasure of trying out the sound bed. At first, before stepping into the chamber, I thought, ‘Sound therapy, I’ve done that before with a practitioner using a tuning fork to attune my body’s sound and Tibetan bowl music, with chanting,’ but this was unexpected. If you’re old enough to remember vibrating beds at motel rooms, the kind where you put a quarter in and for 15 minutes your bed rocked and rolled, you’ll get the gist of OPUS.

It vibrates pretty intensely, starting from your calves to your neck, and then moves to a pre-determined rhythm programmed to match the soundtracks on the iPad. I first chose a bird sound but found the vibration too hard. Then I switched to a soothing ambient track and enjoyed the movement as I lay on the bed in a dark room (my choice).

Cedar Sauna and Cold Plunge Pool

I didn’t try the latter as it was too hot outside, and I felt sticky. However, I’m looking forward to it. Besides, I once took a cold plunge at a Japanese spa in Hokkaido and didn’t know what happened to me. I couldn’t move my body and felt my eyes rolling back. I thought I was dying. So, cold plunges are not for me.

Lymphatic Massage

Lymphatic massage was the best modality I tried. Someone wraps you manually in leg and arm nylon with velcro to keep the attachments secured and well-fitted. The outfit is attached to pumps, which cause pressure up and down your entire body, like taking your blood pressure only everywhere, in a tightening and releasing motion. After the 45-minute session, I felt rejuvenated and highly recommend this for circulation and natural lymphatic drainage.

Sensory Deprivation Tank

I last experienced one of these in Amsterdam when I lived there in 1994. It was the first of its kind, so I was thrilled to try it again after such a long time. The technology may have changed. This tank was more comprehensive than I remembered, so you could almost reach a 45-degree angle as you float, depending on your height.

There was no music or sound as there was in the Dutch floatation tank. That allowed me to meditate in peace and listen to my breath. It could be a challenging experience for those who have never let the silence engulf their space. It’s probably nearly impossible to find complete stillness anywhere. Even in nature, it is quite the racket.

The tank is in a private room with a shower, earbuds, and a foam neck brace to keep your hair somewhat dry.

What Else to Know About Kuya

Kuya is a membership club. What sets it apart is the freedom to come and go and use any magnificent rooms upstairs or downstairs for meetings or just to relax, much like a co-working space. Additionally, there are events and happenings. Naturally, you can buy a day pass for $65.00.

If you are in Austin for a conference, of which there are hundreds, a wedding, visiting your grandchildren or children, or just taking a weekend to explore, I recommend visiting Kuya.

For more information, visit https://kuyawellness.com/.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you been to a wellness center in the past year? What was the experience like? Do you think places like Kuya could benefit us women over 60?

Do you ever find yourself looking in the mirror and occasionally pulling the skin tighter around your jaw line? I certainly have! For many of us, that once sharp and defined jaw line we used to have has gone the way of the mimeograph machine and transistor radio. And what has replaced it is the looser, sagging skin we call jowls.

As our skin ages, it starts to lose some of the compounds that helped keep its shape – specifically the fat and connective tissue proteins elastin and collagen. So, in this article and the accompanying video I’m going to share many options for dealing with jowls, including the easiest and least expensive option: makeup.

Non-Makeup Options

Before we talk about the makeup and makeup techniques that can help us deal with jowls, I first want to briefly mention other options that can make a difference.

Since the changes in our skin are what contribute most to the development of jowls, maintaining our skin integrity is extremely important. It won’t prevent jowls, but it can slow the process. This means protecting our skin from UV radiation and pollution with regular use of sunscreen – and the regular application of topical retinol products.

Since lack of sleep, stress, diet and weight fluctuation can also impact our skin, doing what we can to reduce stress, exercise and avoid as much salt, sugar and processed food is key as well. And here’s an interesting connection: poor diet causes inflammation which can cause an excess of lymphatic fluid which can weigh down our skin – including the skin around our jaw line.

So doing what we can to drain that lymphatic fluid through facial massage or the practice of Gua Sha can make a difference. In addition to helping our skin, Gua Sha can also be a wonderful relaxation technique as well. If you’re unfamiliar with Gua Sha, here’s a video where I demonstrate Gua Sha techniques.

Facial Exercises and Gua Sha

Some research indicates that facial exercises can help reduce the appearance and severity of jowls by making the face, jaw and neck muscles better able to hold their shape. A 2021 review of research concluded that there is limited evidence that facial exercises can aid with facial rejuvenation. However, many studies did show positive outcomes so the evidence is mixed. If you’re interested in giving facial exercises a try, this video demonstrates several face yoga exercises specifically for the jaw line.

Dermatologist and Plastic Surgery Options

There are also in office services through dermatologists and plastic surgeons which can add volume or reduce volume which can help jowls look less prominent. These treatments can involve filler, botox, and a variety of different fat reduction options such as Kybella, liposuction, radiofrequency microneedling or ultrasound therapy.

If you’re interested in learning more about these in office procedures, this video from dermatologist Dr. Sam Ellis called “How to Fix Jowls” may be of interest. The research I’ve done on jowls ultimately reveals that the most effective in office procedure is a facelift.

Makeup Options

Now let’s take a look at the easiest and least expensive option: makeup. There are two things we can do with makeup to minimize the look of jowls. You certainly don’t have to do both of them since either technique can help, but doing both can make the biggest difference in minimizing the look of our jowls.

The first thing we can do with makeup is to contour our skin using a concealer, foundation or a specific contour stick that is 1-2 shades deeper than our skin tone. By using contour we’re using the principles of color theory to help shape our face. Because contour is darker than our skin tone, it helps areas of our face recede so those areas look less prominent and are therefore less noticeable.

If you have dry skin, it’s best to use a cream contour. But if you have oily skin, powder contour will be your best choice. And it’s very important to use a contour which glides on easily and is very blendable so the contour can be easily blended into the face and not look obvious. Benefit’s Hoola Powder Bronzer is a longtime cult favorite for good reason. And five excellent cream contours are from the brands Rare Beauty, Em Cosmetics, Westman Atelier, Huda Beauty and Makeup Revolution.  

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Step 1: Location, Location, Location

The first place to apply the contour is under the cheekbones in an upward sweep toward the ear. However, if you have a round face, it will be most flattering to apply the contour more horizontally across the face rather than diagonally.

Contouring under the cheekbones gives definition to the face and makes the cheekbones look more prominent. And by making the cheekbones more prominent, you’re drawing attention to the cheekbones which takes attention away from the jowls.

In the video I’ll use the Rare Beauty stick contour in the shade “Good Energy” and only apply it on one side of my face so we can look at the difference this contour makes later in the video. So I don’t apply too much contour, I like to dip my brush into the contour, rub it around a bit and then rub it onto the back of my hand or into my palm in a swirling motion to take some product off my brush and to evenly distribute it on my brush. Then I’ll apply it and blend it out.

This contour placement makes the cheekbones look more prominent because the space underneath the cheekbones where you’ve applied the contour recedes and is therefore less prominent.

So, there are no noticeable contour edges, I then take my foundation brush and go over the edges of the contour.

Next, we want to directly make those jowls recede by using contour. So, we want to apply the contour right along the jawline and slightly underneath it. In the video I’ll do this on one side of my face so you can see the difference. Then I’ll blend it out in downward strokes.

Many of us also have a little pouch of skin along our jawline. I certainly do. So in order to minimize the look of that pouch, I’ll apply a bit of contour on top of it and blend it in. Just as I did earlier with the under the cheekbone contour, I like to take my foundation brush and just go around the edges of the jawline so there are no harsh lines.

Step Two: Highlight

The second thing we can do to minimize the jowls is to use a highlighter that’s one to two shades lighter than our skin tone. This will give the illusion of lifting the face and thus draw attention away from our jowls. Two stick highlighters that I think work especially well are from NYX and Doll 10. The NYX sticks come is 6 color correcting shades and 18 concealer shades. The Doll 10 stick is actually an eye crayon, but it can also do double duty as a highlighter.

Once again, the placement of this highlighter is key. We want to take it from the side of the nose upward and from the edge of the lip upward. And then blend. This is subtle but in the video I hope you can see how this lighter shade applied in upwards strokes helps lift the face and draw attention to that part of the face rather than to the jowls.

I hope you found this article and video helpful. And if you’d like more makeup tips and recommendations – along with some other fun articles – be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Just drop me a line at boomerandbeyondbeauty@gmail.com and I’ll make sure it comes your way each Thursday.

Please Share Your Thoughts:

Do you have an issue with jowls? Have you done anything to correct the appearance of jowls? Which method sounds most useful?

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Originally posted at: Alexis Bellino’s Black O Ring Short Sleeve Top