So 60 is becoming the new 40, eh?

I came across an interesting article about how more and more active agers are taking up more strenuous exercise.

Main point: "...physical decline is not just a result of getting older – it’s a result of being less active as we age."

Why is this happening?

• "One factor is the rise of age-group sport."
• "...the trend for consumers to focus more of their spending on experiences instead of material items"

What are some impacts?

• "Books...offer athletes advice for those in their later years."
• "...increasing numbers of gyms are targeting 60-somethings."

Why the optimism?

• "...the decline that many people see is related to their slow drift away from physical activity"
• "As for muscle mass, that’s something you can hang on well into your later years by training correctly. Ditto bone density."
• "Cardiovascular fitness, which can feel like the first thing to go, can be maintained with training."

Nordic walking is a way to latch on to this trend. Some thoughts:

• You can Nordic walk as your primary exercise because it involves your whole body.
• If you haven't exercised in a while, Nordic walking's low impact full-body regime provides a good transition to more intense activity.
• If you feel like you want to do more, you can integrate more strenuous exercises into your routine. For example:
• Nordic walk before weightlifting to get a good warmup.
• Do body weight exercises during your walk (parks with exercise stations are good venues for this).

Because it works and is good for you

A look at trends and walking (and biking)

I came across an interesting article about promoting walking and a related physical activity, biking.

Key point: "...everyone should feel safe walking and biking around their neighborhood, to work, to school, and where they need to go."

Several organizations are collaborating to promote multiple modes for getting around in communities.

• In the past, walking and biking have been seen as nice-to-have activities in a community.
• Now, walking and biking are seen as bringing essential benefits to communities.

Some goals include:

• Seek connection between different modes of travel.
• Improve access.
• Ensure safe routes.
• Include urban, suburban, and rural walking and biking models.

Part of the bigger goal is to increase physical activity to counter the health effects of inactivity.