Lawndale Tribune
AND lAwNDAle News
The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 81, No. 4 - January 27, 2022
Leuzinger Helps Female Students Succeed
Leuzinger High School was recognized by The College Board for engaging more female students in computer science. Congratulations for all your hard work that inspires our students. Photo courtesy The College Board.
Seniors
3 Ways To Stay Active And Keep Your Mind In Shape
(BPT) - Aging brings about many changes.
Beyond graying hair and wrinkles, your brain
is also changing as you grow older and wiser.
According to McKnight Brain Research
Foundation, 87% of people 65 and older
experience cognitive changes associated with
normal aging. The good news is that these
changes don’t have to be a normal passage
of aging. You may find that you can combat
some cognitive decline through exercise.
Beyond staying physically fit and healthy,
exercise can benefit your mental health.
Physical activity improves cognitive function
as people age through neuroplasticity,
which allows the brain to compensate for
injury and disease and adjust in response to
new situations. Exercise also helps alleviate
stress and depression.
Here are three ways you can stay physically
active and reap the mental benefits.
Take a Walk
Daily walks are incredibly beneficial and
easy to incorporate into your routine. You
can start small by taking a walk around
your block or going to a local park for a
short circuit. As you continue to build your
walking stamina, you may find that you can
go farther and farther.
Walking doesn’t have to be a solitary
activity. Ask a friend or family member to
come along on your daily walk. Your neighborhood
may have local walking groups.
Joining a group allows you to stay active,
provides community and allows you to make
new friends.
Join a Fitness Class
Group exercise is a great way to stay
active. Whether you’re going back to a
familiar activity like swimming and water
aerobics or learning a new form of exercise
like yoga and dance, a fitness class allows
you to have a repeating, consistent physical
activity in your weekly schedule.
“I encourage seniors who are new to exercise
to try a class like SilverSneakers that
is designed specifically for older adults,”
said Richard Ashworth, president and CEO
of Tivity Health, the company that delivers
SilverSneakers. “We also have a wide variety
of live virtual classes through SilverSneakers.
com with trainers who guide participants
every step of the way.
Keeping your mind as active as your
body is vital to healthy aging. SilverSneakers
has added mental enrichment to the experiences
available to members by joining forces
with GetSetUp, a virtual learning platform
designed specifically for seniors. The program
offers a wide range of classes through
a senior-specific video platform optimized
for ease of activation, user engagement and
social connection.
“Once you turn 65 or 85, it doesn’t mean
you can’t keep learning, trying new things
and sharing your passions with others,” said
Lawrence Kosick, Co-Founder and President
of GetSetUp. “The older adults who participate
in GetSetUp classes are eager to explore new
topics and develop or deepen hobbies. Not
only is it a lot of fun, but with brain health
being as important as physical health as we
age, learning new skills or enjoying mentally
stimulating activities with peers all can lead
to healthier aging.”
Keep Stretching
As you age, you tend to lose some muscle
strength and elasticity and your joints weaken.
A gentle way to incorporate movement into
your life is to do daily stretches. Stretching
provides several benefits, including increased
circulation and blood flow, enhanced muscle
strength and improved range of motion and
flexibility. You may also find that stretching
relieves lower back pain and stiffness associated
with arthritis.
Low-intensity stretching - such as lunges,
squats and shoulder circles - can also improve
your mood and energy. You can incorporate
these and other stretches into your routine by
starting your day with some light stretches
after your morning cup of coffee or doing a
few dynamic yoga stretches before turning
in for the night.
No matter what type of physical activity
you decide to do, invest in your mind and
body and get moving today. •