From your brain to your joints, moving every day has the power to improve every part of your body.
MUSCLES: You have more than 600 muscles in your body that contribute
to about 40% of your total body weight. By moving, you are strengthening your muscles, which improves stability, balance, and coordination.
BONES: Movement helps build more durable, denser bones. Bone-building activities like resistance training (weights), weight-bearing exercises (jogging, walking, hiking), and balance training can support better bone density.
JOINTS: Use of joints naturally increases flexibility and strength, but motion also lubricates joints and reduces swelling. Not only will exercise help maintain joint health in the long term, but it will also help reduce joint pain symptoms.
BRAIN: Walking 30-40 minutes a day three times per week can help “regrow” the structures of the brain linked to cognitive decline in older adults.
HEART/LUNGS: When you are physically active, your heart and lungs work harder to supply the additional oxygen your muscles demand. Which makes your lungs and heart stronger. As your physical fitness improves, your body becomes more efficient at getting oxygen into the bloodstream and transporting it to the working muscles. That’s one of the reasons that you are less likely to become short of breath during exercise over time.
Just move and avoid inactivity! Find something or several activities you love to do and commit to it. Find a buddy, it will help you to stay motivated and accountable.
There are activities in the Women’s Club that can get you moving. Try the Monday Walking Club or sign up for the Monthly Hikes. As the leader for the Hiking Group, we try to stay within a half hour of Moon Valley. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am. If you are not sure if you are ready for a hike, I am happy to meet you at North Mountain Visitor Center once the weather gets nice and we can do an easy trail together. You can contact Barb N by checking the online directory.
