They were all of a similar age, so I was a little nervous about how much we would have in common.

Well, I needn’t have worried, because the 85-year-old man sitting next to me explained how he kept fit by doing a Pilates class once a week with his wife.

In his younger life he had played rugby which had resulted in a shoulder, hip and knee replacement.  He had been doing Pilates for over 10 years to stay active and improve his golf swing.

I made the comment about how important it is to stay mobile to enjoy independence in old age.

The gentleman agreed, but added that it is also important to stay confident.  Being confident allows you to interact with a world that is constantly changing.

It’s your prerogative to choose how you age, but don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old to do something.

The problem is that when we age, we (and other people) put limitations on how we live.  We move less and take shorter steps.  We lose balance and coordination which can result in more falls.  We also lose muscle strength and bone density which can put physical limitations on our lives as we can’t do the things that we used to.

As a result, many people opt out altogether and their world shrinks as a result.

So, let me share these wise words from the gentleman next to me “It’s better to be the oldest person in the Pilates class rather than the youngest in the care home.”