Joining a gym at 75: a weighty move
More strength to your elbow, madam!
In which the Sergeant Major wins a tough battle and sends me off the practise calisthenics (in modern parlance, strength exercise, at a local gym.
Finally I did it: joined a gym. I’ve done it twice before, lasting a couple of years each time. But this time, I’m serious.
For years, neuroscientists have been discovering and proving and publishing a single message loud and clear: exercise is pure gold, a panacea, catholicon, philosopher’s stone and holy grail all rolled into one. If you care about maintaining a healthy brain into old age and if you follow health and lifestyle news even casually, you know this already.
No need to wait for dementia: how to be daft right now
So we all know, at some level, that to sit around all day is just plain crazy. That’s an interesting choice: to knowingly live in a way that makes you more likely to go daft in the future.
What’s good for your heart is good for your brain. Exercise is the starting point for geriatric sanity. Better body, better brain. Not surprising, when the brain is part of the body and needs a truckload of blood and oxygen to function well.
Easy for me to say, when my joints and limbs are still mobile. But I’ve made a vow to move whatever part of my body I can move until the day I die. I am growing the habit of taking my body seriously. It’s been good to me, and I must return the compliment.
A top-of-list life change
Some life changes are exponentially powerful compared with others. They send off ripples that affect the rest of your life.
Regular exercise is one of these. It lifts your spirits, counteracts depression, gets more blood to your brain, helps you think more clearly, and somehow helps get rid of physical niggles. It may also raise your levels of confidence and optimism. It often has a social component which is good for us too. Exercise improves your sleep and even starts some people eating healthier.
I knew all this. (So did you!)
The missing link
Before the boot camp self-inquisition, my exercise regime had a few fixed pegs (tai chi every morning and dance rehearsals every Wednesday evening) and a few depends-on-the-weather items (random swims, random walks on Mt Victoria). Also, I walk around town doing my chores: big deal, not.
The more I read about exercise for the elderly, the more I could see that two things were missing in my life: a weekly schedule and strength building.
My sergeant major yelled at me about this every hour on the hour.
And yet, and yet … I postponed acting on this knowledge for six months. Back in January of my boot camp year, I already knew I must review my exercise habits. I procrastinated by focusing on less important changes. I procrastinated by reading scientific studies and books. I procrastinated by budgeting. I procrastinated by investigating every gym in town, looking up bus timetables, drawing up schedules that might work.
Finally I took myself by surprise. I attended a trial Power class at a gym close to me, called the Exodus. (Exodus from where, I wonder—Slobvania?) I joined the gym straight after trying the class. Since then I’ve attended two Power classes every week and I feel very happy about the change.
My new schedule includes a good dose of exercise every day from Monday to Friday. I’m happy about this too.
But hey, in the weekends I will just slop around as usual. Like now, for instance, I’m just a dear old granny typing to myself in a rocking chair.
My little one-kilo weights are cuter than Angela’s but they still work fine
Drawing from Hand-book of calisthenics and gymnastics : a complete drill-book for schools, families, and gymnasiums : with music to accompany the exercises (1864) Watson, J. Madison. Public domain. Photo of Angela at the Exodus gym: Rachel McAlpine, CC BY 3.0
I love it! “No need to wait for dementia, be daft right now” indeed, Rachel. I know that place – Slobvania. I’ve spent some time there now and again. It has some short term appeal but I’d have to agree, you wouldn’t want to live there.
Tempting at times! Legit on holidays.
I do a gym routine Mon-Fri. I found that the same group comes around the same time and that makes it more bearable too. Good luck to you.
Fantastic! I like the social factor very much. Do you do classes or work out alone?
I work out alone but there are classes at certain times. The same people seem to come at the same time. We are all retired so we’re friendly (and not in a hurry to get to work) so it’s nice.
Sounds good to me…
It does you good and it’s nice when you stop … win-win!
Thanks for the laugh!
That’s good news, Rachel. I need to do more exercise, though no gym anywhere here that I can actually get to so it’s my aerobic stepper and stretching exercises when I can. I used to do T’ai Chi years ago, still remember some of it but can no longer do because of wonky feet.
Sounds as if you have a good regime going. I think you could modify tai chi to a seated version! It is versatile.
Good for you on this brave venture, Rachel!
Well, the only hard thing was walking in the door the first time. After that, no bravery needed.
Here is the golden sentence I found in this post: “I am growing the habit of taking my body seriously. It’s been good to me, and I must return the compliment.” I like it because it succinctly states something I have been trying to do the last few years, and my efforts have have had a positive impact on my physical and mental well being. Congratulations on your gym membership.
That is such a lovely response! I am happy when my own mental pottering resonates with someone whose experience is similar or overlaps with mine.
Good for you, Rachel! I wish I could do the same, but some disabilities and spinal problems preclude many types of exercise for me. But I do walk, which I’m thankful for the ability to do since I spent a year unable to walk at all.
By the way, “catholicon” is a new word for me. I’m always happy to receive new words. Thank you! 🙂
I am so happy to know that you can walk again. And you are finding your own ways to exercise. I can still use a cookie cutter programme and know how lucky I am.