By: Special Advertising Section August 16, 2016
Q: What are some movement habits that I can adopt to maintain an active lifestyle as I age?
A: “It’s important to move every day,” says physical therapist and Pilates instructor Ron Jegadeesh, owner of Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center.
Whether it’s walking, biking, gardening, or taking an exercise class, just 10 to 20 minutes of daily exercise makes a difference. “Patients I see who make exercise part of their daily routine look and act younger,” Jegadeesh says. “They’re also more likely to stay injury-free and they recover much quicker from an injury than those who don’t exercise.”
Jegadeesh recommends including these healthy movement habits:
Change positions frequently. Don’t sit or stand for long periods of time. If you have a sedentary job, be sure to stand up and take a break every hour.
Practice correct posture and alignment. Sit and stand tall with the spine neutral, shoulders relaxed, and your head on top of your spine.
Add strength training to your exercise routine. “We lose muscle mass as we age,” explains Jegadeesh. “Therefore, adding resistance to a workout will help maintain muscle tone. Pilates is an excellent way to gain strength while maintaining proper alignment.”