What Is The True Value Of Exercise For Older People And Society In General

Research shows that the benefits of older people going to exercise groups go beyond self-improvement and provide good value for society,

You know physical activity is good for you. But, that isn’t always enough to get or keep you moving.

The rise of wearable fitness trackers has increased the number of people monitoring their heart rate, both throughout the day and during exercise.

Exercise is not only good for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health, too. Indeed, many people even take up exercise as a way of boosting their mental well-being. 

There are a lot of reasons people don’t exercise, and a lot of misconceptions about exercise.

Qigong has helped me understand and connect with myself as an energy being. Different forms of qigong emphasize different qualities, from meditative and healing to medical and martial arts; some incorporate branches of philosophy, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Professional sport is full of stories of elite athletes “choking” emotionally and mentally under the pressure of competition.

For the first time in human history, older people outnumber younger people. This has created unique health challenges. Dementia may be one of the scariest.

Endurance running is in. Fitness enthusiasts and elite runners alike spend their weekends pounding the pavements and bounding through the countryside.

Exercise is recommended for people who are overweight or obese as a way to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

It’s free, requires no equipment and the scenery can be stunning – it’s no wonder running is among the world’s most popular sports.

When you hear the word “cancer” probably the last thing that you think of is physical activity.

While the condition is often associated with older adults, rising childhood inactivity and poor fitness levels mean that the risk factors associated with heart disease are more common among teenagers than most people think.

Millions of people around the world, including nearly 60% of Americans, Australians and Europeans, participate in sports.

Ageing is inevitable and is influenced by many things – but keeping active can slow ageing and increase life expectancy.

Perhaps your GP has recommended you exercise more, or you’ve had a recent health scare. Maybe your family’s been nagging you to get off the couch or you’ve decided yourself that it’s time to lose some weight.

Moms in low-income neighborhoods say physical and social barriers in their neighborhoods discourage them from allowing their children to play outside, according to a new study.

Most people -- men especially -- tend to skimp on the stretching facet of their workouts. By committing to a flexibility routine, however, you can actually prevent injuries that can sideline you in later years and instead continue to use your body more fully, because you'll maintain greater range of motion in your muscles and joints.

As a society, we aren’t getting as much exercise as we should. In fact, current activity guidelines state that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity – or 75 minutes of vigorous activity – every week.

For some school children, PE is the best lesson of the week – a chance to leave the desk behind, get outside, and enjoy a run around with friends.

Physical inactivity is a global health problem. But despite overwhelming evidence that regular exercise is highly beneficial, the challenge of encouraging people to be more active remains.

It’s well-documented that regular exercise is good for us. Being active can reduce your risk for a variety of diseases such as heart disease and cancer, as well as improving psychological well-being.

Rainbow Yoga! The perfect 17-minute practice to brighten your day, to help turn darkness into light.

Expectant mothers receive an avalanche of information about potential risks to their baby.

A number of sexual assault survivors report enormous benefits from specialized classes, but not all therapists are on board.

First there were heated fitness studios, now the latest trend is working out in frigid temperatures.

In this gentle 20 minute yoga flow, you are invited to take a moment to surrender. No need to come with an agenda or worry about a specific outcome. Set down your burdens and let yoga take care of you.

Wearables might not offer enough motivation to get your daily steps, but a little competition might work.

Most parents are aware that physical activity is good for children – as it can help to improve their sense of self and have a positive impact on their mental health and well-being.

The Washington Post recently reported the story of Josh Hader, a 28-year-old who stretched and popped his neck, tore an artery and nearly lost his life from a major stroke.

Afternoon breaks were once a common feature of nearly all primary school timetables.

Please join me for this 28 minute at home yoga practice designed to help you feel good and bring you back into a balanced state.

Learn to reside in the role of the observer and hop on the mat for this special Yoga Belly practice!

Activate, stretch, and relieve any tension in this 23 minute yoga session specifically designed for the upper back.

Join me for this 27 min Yoga For Low Back practice! In this session we address all areas that contribute to low back aches and pain, as well as provide preventative care

Our Yoga For Weight Loss series continues with this 31-minute warming practice that invites you to focus on the power of thought as you build strength and awareness in the arms and abdominals.

In many ways, we have never been less healthy. Nearly 100 million adults in the United States are obese.

Many of us, aware of the benefits of exercise, try to stick to a routine, only to find our sneakers at the back of the closet when the weather doesn’t co-operate, our routine is disrupted or we are short of time.

Join me for this sweet, 15 minute Moon Practice, perfect for anyone under any stress. This practice invites you to get quiet, decompress, and call in some lunar energy to counteract a busy lifestyle.

Girls and women experiencing period pain often avoid physical activity, but our latest study suggests that doing exercise might actually provide pain relief.

Join me for Yoga For Risk Takers, I dare you! This 26 min session is all about expanding and grounding in honor of promoting courage and balance so that we are better prepared to take risks and “go

From the UK to Canada, China to India, around the world, yoga is big business. In 2016, Americans alone spent US$16 billion on yoga classes and products.

From fairly obscure beginnings in the mid-20th century, the practice of yoga in Britain has become a massively popular pastime.

The benefits of exercise may differ depending on the time of day when you work out, a new study in mice suggests.

You’ve probably seen ads for apps promising to make you smarter in just a few minutes a day. Hundreds of so-called “brain training” programs can be purchased for download.

Join me for Rose Yoga, a loving full length heart opening vinyasa flow! Allow your breath to blossom with each gesture.

Missed your workout or practice window? Fear not! Try this quick yoga break thoughtfully designed to connect you to your breath, fire up your core and stretch your whole body!

Total Body Yoga - Deep Core is a 20 min practice for building strength as well as increasing flexibility and blood flow.

Hop on the mat for this 22-minute yoga session designed to help you feel good! Stretch your body, tap into conscious breath, and get your endorphins kicking!

There's no shortage of good advice in the world. But how to actually follow it? - When it comes to your own wellbeing, learn to schedule your 'me time' with precision.

No yoga mat or stretchy pants required for this 14 min Office Break Yoga! Carve out time for yourself to stretch it out, create space, connect with your breath, focus your mind and replenish your body.

This gentle and nurturing 26 minute session is made with love and designed to support you, wherever you are today. Use the tools of pranayama to calm the nervous system as Adriene guides us through this

Sitting is probably killing you slowly — whether you exercise vigorously every day or not.

Hop on the mat for this full length warming vinyasa flow dedicated to respect and replenishment. Welcome in some heat as you stretch, strengthen, and create space. Replenish your energy to restore balance

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Nearly half the adult population in Australia drink it.

Getting on your bicycle can give you an enormous sense of freedom and enjoyment. It can increase your independence and knowledge of the local area, and improve your access to the natural (or urban) environment.

When you exercise, your heart and breathing rates increase, delivering greater quantities of oxygen from the lungs to the blood, then to exercising muscles.

The good thing about Kegel exercises is that you can do them pretty much anywhere

New research links participation in team sports to larger hippocampal volumes in kids and less depression in boys ages 9 to 11.

Most people probably don’t think of everyday activities – such as hanging out the washing or putting away the groceries – as having an effect on their long-term health.

When it comes to health and fitness, there are rarely any quick fixes. But if you’re struggling to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day, micro workouts might be just the thing you need to start improving your fitness.

Have you recently carried heavy shopping bags up a few flights of stairs?

Regular walking produces many health benefits, including reducing our risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.

Community-based exercise programs improve physical fitness and quality of life for people with cancer, according to a new study.

New research suggests that people who know more about the benefits of physical activity spend more time doing it.

Organized sports and physical activities aren’t enough to keep homeschoolers fit, research finds.

People who exercise on a regular basis are more likely to eat healthier, too.

Our muscles grow as a result of regular exercise and can waste away when not frequently or strenuously used, leading to the popular maxim: “Use it or lose it.”

Today, virtually every form of medicine recognizes these basic truths: 1) Simple exercise can have profound healing effects. 2) Specific "healing moves" can help fight illness and enhance health. Healing moves provide an ideal self-care strategy to help prevent, relieve, and...

Are you sitting down? Then you may want to stand up to read this, as research from the US has found that sitting for too long could increase your risk of dying – even if you exercise.

CrossFit, circuit training, group exercise, functional training, resistance training, cardio training. Feeling dizzy yet?

The effect of exercise on health is profound. It can protect you from a range of conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

Women have long been subject to powerful social pressures to look a certain way. The “feminine ideal” – a svelte female figure – has dominated film, television and magazine culture.

Encouraging people to meet specific fitness goals when they are new to exercising can be ineffective. In fact, it may even make it harder to become active, according to an editorial published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Setting workout goals for the New Year? Increasing physical activity and aiming to improve your health are worthy goals, but can be challenging.

From Vail in the US to Val d’Isere in France, winter sports holidays are all the rage. And with more older people now hitting the slopes, there has been an inevitable rise in snow sport-related injuries.

Increases in physical activity tend to be followed by increases in mood and perceived energy level, research finds.

There is a movement afoot (pun intended) to get more people exercising by involving their family doctors.

It’s that time again. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released a new edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. That sound you hear is Americans collectively sighing.

Qigong, as an art of healing and health preservation, is thought to have originated as early as four thousand years ago in the Tang Yao times as a form of dancing. Qigong, through mind, breathing, and posture regulation, aids in the prevention and treatment of diseases and preserves and lengthens life. Qigong cultivates intrinsic energy (genuine Qi) which is found naturally within all people.

Have you ever wondered why you feel healthier and happier when you stroll through the trees or frolic by the sea? Is it just that you’re spending time away from work, de-stressing and taking in the view? Or is there more to it?

We all know making physical activity a regular habit is important for health and well-being. But health promotion messages are often aimed at children and young people, with less focus on the importance of physical activity for older people. However, older age is a crucial time for being active every day.

“Exercise isn’t really important for weight loss” has become a popular sentiment in the weight loss community. “It’s all about diet,” many say. “Don’t worry about exercise so much.”

This quote from an anonymous patient sums up the experience of millions of sufferers of a health problem that’s rarely recognized or even discussed, yet has a major impact on their lives. Simply put, these people can’t catch their breath.

Physical Education (PE) is often viewed as a marginal subject within the curriculum. And many secondary schools actively reduce PE time to make way for what are deemed more “serious” or “important” subjects.

It can often be tempting to jump on a bus for a short journey through the city, especially when it’s raining or you’re running behind schedule. Where there are dedicated bus lanes in place, it can feel as though you speed past gridlocked traffic. But as city authorities begin new initiatives to get people walking or cycling, that could all change – and so could you.

If you have ever broken an arm and had to wear a cast or splint for a few weeks, you will be familiar with the alarming loss of muscle and uneasy feeling of weakness experienced after removing your cast. Most people do not do much exercise while a broken arm is healing and can struggle with this loss of muscle for many weeks after the injury.

Walking significantly lowers the risk of heart failure in older women, a new study shows. The study of more than 137,000 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 is the largest and most comprehensive to date that has evaluated physical activity within the context of heart failure prevention.

Increasing the amount of exercise is one way to use the energy stored in fat cells, or to ‘burn’ fat. Many of us may be considering “burning some fat” so we feel better in our bathing suits out on the beach or at the pool. What does that actually mean, though?

People with low muscle strength don’t typically live as long as their stronger peers, according to a new study. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, chronic health conditions, and smoking history, researchers found that people with low muscle strength are 50 percent more likely to die earlier.

Many older people find they’re not able to move as freely as they did when they were younger. They describe their movements as feeling stiff or restricted. In particular, feeling stiff when getting out of bed first thing in the morning or after sitting for a long period. The feeling does eventually ease with movement as the muscles “warm up”, but it can be troublesome. There are a few reasons this happens.

There are many ways to get around a city. You can drive a car or ride a motorcycle. In many cities you have the option of public transport. And of course if you live close enough to where you are heading you can get around in a more active way by riding a bicycle or walking.

Cycling may be dangerous in some ways, but it’s healthy too. But do the health benefits outweigh the risks of potential death? And what about public transport or driving? What is the risk of having an accident, and are there any health benefits at all? There are a number of variables to consider, so the answers to these questions may not be as straightforward as you think.

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the value – or lack thereof – of muscle stretching to accelerate recovery after exercise. “Stretching clears out your lactic acid,” and other similar claims abound. Is any of this true?

When temperatures spike in the summer, it’s important to make sure you temper your workouts to stay safe, says Sandeep Mannava, a sports medicine specialist at University of Rochester Medicine.

Given the state our bodies are in after exercise, and what alcohol does to our system, drinking after sport is a bad idea.

We know excess weight is linked to many adverse health consequences, but there is now growing understanding that it also affects fertility.

Some of us like to stroll along and smell the roses, while others march to their destination as quickly as their feet will carry them. A new study out today has found those who report faster walking have lower risk of premature death.

The wisdom and knowledge that the martial arts offer is something that should be preserved in modern society. The practitioner who views his training as merely a means of self-defense will eventually realize that his efforts are unrewarding. The martial Way is nothing less than self-cultivation and the promotion of virtuous conduct.

Swapping your car for more physically active forms of travel may reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death, our latest research shows.

Pretty much everyone knows that taking exercise helps people stay in good health. It staves off chronic ailments like type 2 diabetes and heart disease and – maybe – helps us live longer.