Time to Take My Own Advice

It’s time to take some of my own advice. Don’t ya just hate when that happens? We had a change in aerobics instructors at the gym. The new teacher two times a week is young – I mean in his thirties. He teaches a young people’s class (despite the fact that most of the class is around my age – which is 61).



Willie’s workout has a lot of dancing (really fun and really aerobic) and a lot of kick boxing moves. I knew I was too old to be doing those high kicks and all those jerky thrusting and punching moves. And I didn’t even enjoy them. So why did I do them? I guess to keep up with the class and not look my age.



Ahh vanity … George Sand said, “Vanity is the quicksand of reason” and I sunk deeply in. Now I’m left with two strained hamstrings. I’m practicing PRICE: Protect; Rest; Ice; Compression; Elevation. [Did you know they added “P” to that old saw? It was news to me.] Do you have any idea what it feels like to sit on two icepacks?



While it’s essential to exercise as we age to maintain strength, aerobic capacity and flexibility, it’s just as important to know our personal limits. Take it from one who is learning the hard way. Read my article on Age-Appropriate Exercise and do as I say – not as I do!



Tags: overuse injury, hamstring pull, age-appropriate exercise