Surrey Homes | SH33 | July 2017 | Interiors supplement inside

Beauty
Never too late!
We asked fitness guru and personal trainer Sarah Maxwell for
her advice on building an exercise routine later in life …
1
IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO START?
I believe it’s never too late to start exercising.
The positives are huge for the over 60s, there
are diverse improvements ranging from increases
in strength and flexibility to improvements in
circulation and bone density. I run a variety of exercise
classes and have many people over sixty involved.
I encourage everyone of all ages and levels to go at their
own pace and enjoy themselves whilst doing it.
2
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
There are a wide range of classes, as close as your local
leisure centre or village hall. Gyms aren’t for everyone
but this doesn’t mean there aren’t many other ways to exercise.
Some great things to try for beginners are:
. Yoga
. Tai Chi . Walking
. Zumba . Water Fitness dance classes
. Pilates
. Ballet Barre
groups
. Ballroom
It’s a great time to try new things and find out what
works best for you. Classes are great because you can go
along on your own or take a friend for support. Start
with a beginners’ class and let the teacher know you’re
new to exercise so they can help, encourage and get you
on the right track safely and effectively. Exercising with
others is proven to be the most effective way to maintain
a routine and encouragement plays an important role.
3
HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK?
I would suggest a minimum of two sessions
a week to get results. Start out gently and
build up gradually so you improve consistently and
prevent injury. Space the classes a couple of days
apart so your body gets a chance to recover between
sessions. Try to fit in some regular cardiovascular
exercise between classes such as walking or swimming.
As your fitness improves you’ll notice that you have more
energy and confidence and are more active in everyday tasks.
4WHAT BENEFITS CAN
I EXPECT TO SEE
FROM EXERCISING?
Regular exercise will tone your
body, increase your metabolism
and make you feel great on the inside and
outside. It also has many benefits for your health
and wellbeing in general: research shows that
physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood,
sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing
your risk of stress, depression, dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease. The best medicine you can
give your body and mind is a regular exercise routine,
even one that just involves walking and moving more.
5MOTIVATION
Getting started with exercise is one thing,
keeping it up is another. I advise my clients to
set short term goals that are easy to stick to. People are
motivated when they start but without goals they find it
difficult. Planning sessions ahead in your diary is a great
motivator. Teaming up with someone in your class or a
friend can also help enormously. Fun is the name of the
game. If you dread going along to your class it’s time to
change and try something new. Make a list of all of the
classes/activities you would like to try and give them a go.
Sarah Maxwell is a professional
PT and group exercise
instructor based in
Cranbrook. She is HAB
personal trainer
of the year. Visit
sarahmaxwell.
co.uk or call
07973 233668.
Credit: FreeImages.com/Michael Lorenzo, Moi Cody
wealdentimes.co.uk
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