“Embrace a lifestyle change for health - Culpeper Star-Exponent” plus 1 more |
| Embrace a lifestyle change for health - Culpeper Star-Exponent Posted: 18 Oct 2010 01:39 AM PDT By Business Monday - Jim Charapich/Community Columnist, jcharapich@culpeperchamber.com "We simply have to move our focus from treating disease to preventing disease through lifestyle changes. By focusing on wellness where we live, work and learn, we can truly start building a Healthy America." —Former Iowa Gov. Mike Huckabee. This is the perfect time of year to embrace a lifestyle change for your health. The quote above is one of many found at the National Governors Association website. The focus on preventing health problems thru prevention is a growing discussion among government, community, and business leaders. The reasons are obvious — we cannot afford to continue to be irresponsible about health choices. It is up to us individually to make good choices about the food, exercise, and lifestyle that affect our health. In Culpeper, we have many options to support your fitness goals. For a relatively small community, we have several fitness facilities to choose from with vibrant programs to make exercise goals exciting and achievable. Let's take a quick tour to see what you will find … first there is the Second Look Studio — one of their focus areas is yoga. If you have ever tried yoga then you know that you will find this an especially rewarding experience. Yoga builds strength, relaxes, and enhances focus. This is a great way to move your fitness routine indoors as the temps get cooler. Next you will find three major fitness facilities in our community. The Sport and Racquet Club is located just off of Lovers Lane. In addition to a full range of weight lifting and cardio equipment, they offer many fitness classes including spinning classes. The SRC also offers an indoor tennis facility and the only racquetball court that I know of in Culpeper. Gold's Gym is also a popular fitness venue. They to have a full range of weights and cardio equipment. I like to follow them on Facebook to see what their instructors are offering for classes. Pay attention to one of my favorite instructors at Gold's — Julia Peck — her Body Combat class sounds fresh and exciting each class … this is not surprising considering that she is an Tri-Athlete competitor. Powell Wellness, a part of the Culpeper Regional Health System, also has a full set of weights and cardio equipment. In addition to classes like Cycling, Body Pump, and Step Aerobics, they offer a variety of water aerobic classes. They have one of the only indoor pools in the area. It is called a TURTTLE pool which stands for therapeutic, unique, rehabilitation, two-temperature lap and exercise pool. This is one of only a few TURTTLE pools in the USA. Try swimming against the current for a real work out! Whatever your fitness choice, why wait for the New Year resolution rush? The weather is turning cooler and you can start taking your fitness to new levels today. You may find new friends in the many classes and feel great. You might even find that your medical costs are reduced. Reduce costs, feel great, new friends —what great possibilities! Get started today! Jim Charapich is the President/CEO of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com.
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| New Studies Reveal Hidden Benefits of Exercise for Seniors - St. Louis Post-Dispatch (blog) Posted: 18 Oct 2010 10:57 AM PDT Webster Groves, MO (October 18, 2010) – As the weather turns and leaves begin to fall this year, new research shows that aging seniors are well served to get up and grab a rake themselves – for more reasons than one. A group of four recent studies published in 2010 Harvard University health and medicine journals shows a surprising and strong connection between seniors, exercise, and mental and physical health, especially among aging women. "We've known that regular exercise translates to serious health benefits for seniors for years, but connections of this magnitude are incredible," said Eugene Davis, senior care expert and owner of Senior Helpers of St. Louis, a leading local in-home care company. "It's vital to keep mom and dad up and moving as they age, and this is further evidence that proves just how important even the most moderate of exercise efforts can really be." The four new studies found the following related to seniors, mental health and physical activity: · Women who exercise regularly (categorized as walking briskly five to six hours per week) at age 60 were almost twice as likely to live beyond 70 with no cognitive, physical, or mental health limitations; · Women age 65-75 who participated in low-level strength training exercises showed significantly improved executive function (high-order thought processes involved in decision making) and also improved physical walking speed (a leading predictor of fall and fracture risk) compared to a control group; · Men and women over 55 who exercise at a moderate level or higher (about three times per week) were half as likely to develop dementia later in life compared to those who did not exercise regularly; and · Women, age 70 and up, with mild cognitive impairments (MCI, a common precursor to dementia) who engaged in aerobic exercise four times per week showed significant improvements over a control group in all administered cognitive and physiological tests over a six-month trial. "The successes found by these researchers in improving mental function and physical health can be duplicated right here locally in St. Louis," Davis said. "We work with seniors living on their own each day, helping them get out of the house, go for a walk, do some light work in the yard or garden or whatever else they can do. It's crucial for elderly individuals to stay active and exercise, but it's also important to have someone there to watch them, assist them, and make sure they are staying safe while being staying active." Simple Autumn Exercise Ideas for Seniors - Sweeping/Raking leaves – even a quick weekly sweep of the front porch or the stoop offers cardio and strength-building exercise for core muscle groups. - Gardening – tending to a small garden or flower box works the hands, forearms, and extremities and is good for the mind. - Light Housework – doing the dishes, laundry, dusting, and cleaning offer a great opportunity for an easy everyday exercise routine. - Walking – the weeks after the summer heat and before winter chill provide a perfect window for outdoor excursions at any point during the day. - Seasonal Activities – pumpkin carving and corn mazes offer physical activity and a chance to interact with family and friends. "The physical and mental benefits of exercise among seniors are almost endless," Davis said. "Even the simplest of activities can go a long, long way to promoting a healthy, independent lifestyle among aging loved one, and this new research is the proof." This new information about the importance of exercise among seniors is a great story that affects millions of aging Baby Boomers and their families. We can provide interviews and photo/video opportunities with senior health experts and caregivers to help put a personal face on this story. For more information, contact: Jon Weiner, jweiner@seniorhelpers.com, 919.459.8161/919.557.7890
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About Senior Helpers: Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 300 franchises in 42 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit: http://www.seniorhelpers.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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