Recently there has been a surge of people taking up activities like running (using the couch to 5k method) or becoming a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) only to overdo it and end up with pulled tendons and sore muscles. The rest and recovery stage can often take so long that the person gets out of the habit of exercise and gives up completely. Ageing is associated with the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength and a decline in physical performance which affects our ability to go about our daily activities, but as we age exercise can become harder and motivation wanes, particularly after an injury. What can we do about it? A recent study of resistance exercise has found that older people respond well to strength training, including even those in their 70s and 80s. Last week's The Times reinforced the government's advice that the average adult should do muscle-strengthening exercises two/three days a week (as well as 150 minutes of aerobic exercise). Those over 65, should also consider balance training. I was pleased to see that all the exercises the newspaper recommended are those I teach in my Pilates classes, for example: Squats (including single leg squats) Sit to stand Balance on one leg Shoulder circles Cat cows Lunges (forward and back) Wall push-ups Dead bug heel taps Running man So my message to you is, "You're never too young to start to exercise and never too old to feel the benefits."
