Senior Advisor: Fitness Knows No Age

Fitness knows no age

George Burns, who was an expert on aging—he lived to be 100 years old, once opined that “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old,” and also advised people to look to the future because that’s where you’ll spend the rest of your life. Protesting that if he knew he was going to live as long as he did, he would have taken better care of himself, he may echo the feelings of those of us who wonder if there’s anything else to do down there when we stoop to tie our shoes.

I’ve found in my own life that while some folks are blessed with good genes and will live to a ripe old age no matter how many unhealthy habits they have, one of the keys to quality of life as we age is exercise and it’s never to late to start. That’s why music and movement are the ongoing themes at The Summit of Uptown. Singing and dancing will lift our spirits at sing alongs, musical theater, band concerts and rhythmic activities, as well as dance demos, yoga sessions and mind and body fitness classes.

Activities such as these can help in a number of ways. They help increase muscle mass and bone density and may even have a positive effect on our cognitive function and mood.

Muscle not only helps us burn calories and maintain our weight, it keeps us strong and contributes to balance and bone strength. Without it, we are at risk for losing our independence and our mobility. The good news is that muscle mass—that decreases as we age—can increase no matter how old we are—when we exercise.

Bones are as important as muscles as far as our well being goes. Bones tend to decrease in density as we age, and for some people, that can lead to osteoporosis. While the exact amount of exercise to increase bone density has not been pinpointed, research does show that weight lifting—or even just walking—can increase bone density in the hip and the spine.

One of the most exciting areas where exercise improves life is cognitive function. Research shows that brain neurons—the cells that help you think, move, and basically keep you alive as well as helping your memory—increase after just a short time of regular activity. And as far as improving your mood, just talk to anyone who exercises and they will tell you how good they feel after a workout. A good dose of exercise—whether it’s your heart beating and your blood pumping or just getting out in the fresh air—generally improves your mood.

If you were enjoying the carefree lifestyle at The Summit of Uptown, exercise options would abound with such opportunities as workouts with our coach, yoga, tai chi and meditation, morning exercise classes or drum circles. We invite you to come and check out The Summit for yourself at one of our upcoming events. To find out more about the many other activities, services, programs and amenities at The Summit of Uptown, visit the Summit Facebook page, our website at www.summitofuptown.com, or call 847-825-1161. Personal tours are available too.