VV2

By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness
February is “heart month.” What are you doing
to protect your heart? Are you exercising and
having a healthy diet?
Here are some easy cardio exercises to
help strengthen your heart:
MARCH & TAP: Perform the move for
30 seconds. March in place, lifting your
knees as high as you comfortable can. Add
single knee taps.
As your left leg comes up, tap it with your
right hand. As your right leg comes up, tap
it with your left hand. Continue alternating.
When you have the movement down, try
a double knee tap on each leg and then a
triple knee tap on each leg. Return to single
knee taps and repeat the tapping cycle.
CROSSOVER TOE TAP: Perform the move for 1 minute. Stand tall
with your feet hip-width apart.
Step your right foot forward, crossing it in front of your body and
tapping the floor.
Return to starting position and step your left foot forward, crossing
30
Heart Month
Senior Exercise?
By: Gayla Kalp / Life is Laughter
For the past eight years, I have been going to
a senior gym for exercise. Yes, I know….my
friends consider me
more as a Sloth than
Ms. Muscle Universe.
I do however want to walk into my nineties,
not be rolled in - if the Gods see fit. So, I will
continue to go to the gym.
This brings me to the contents of this
article.
At the gym I, notice a very big exercise
difference between the men and women. First
of all, the difference in clothing.
Most men wear ragged shorts and a tee
shirt left over from their fraternity days. Some wear bicycle shorts that
should have been washed with kryptonite weeks ago.
The women, on the other hand, wear coordinating exercise outfits
or at least tasteful shorts or pants and a matching top. The second
difference is in the exercise itself.
Most men will get on the stationary bicycle, elliptical or treadmill
and go “full bore” while sweating profusely and yelling “Hello” at their
friend who walks by. The women pick a good pace that does not have
them looking like they are about to have a coronary and gives them
enough breath to chat to their friends.
February 2024
it in front of your body and tapping the floor. Continue alternating,
moving your arms as you like.
SKATER TAP: Perform the move for 1 minute. Stand tall with your
feet hip-width apart. Step your right foot back, crossing it behind your
body and tapping the floor.
Return to starting position and step your
left foot back, crossing it behind your body
and tapping the floor. Continue alternating,
moving your arms as you like.
When you have the movement down, try
hand claps as you move side-to-side. Begin
with a single clap as you step to the left, then
double clap as you step to the right, and
then triple clap as you step again. Repeat
clapping cycle.
2024 is a new year. Take care of yourself -
in particular your heart.
BE GRATEFUL - for whatever you have, not what you don’t have.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HAPPY HEALTH TO ALL!
Mary Richard is a long term supporter of senior fitness. She
teaches Zumba, toning and dance classes throughout the Las
Vegas Valley.
The Press Fixed Bar (weight lifting bar) and similar weight lifting
machines are really interesting. I rarely see a woman use these
machines. I don’t know why.
Maybe it is because they would have to really flex their mammaries
and no one wants an over stretched boob.
What is really curious, is that these men
make these loud, grunting sounds while they
lift the bar or weight.
They also only lift the weights two or three
times, drop the weight and then walk around
the machine several times before returning.
One man was grunting so loudly that I asked
him why was he doing the exercise when,
obviously, he was in tremendous pain?
He said he wanted to tear the muscle in
order for it to grow bigger! What?
When women use Free Motion Machines (sit on bench and pull on
handles attached to the machine), they repeat an exercise amount
(100 pulls each arm) until they are finished.
I notice men will pull the handles maybe 20 times…then rise off the
bench….walk around….get back on the bench and start again.
I always thought of exercise as a necessary chore. Now, I believe it is
a window into human behavior.
Gayla is a speaker, author, psychologist and humorist. She also
happens to be Ms. Sr. California, Nevada and Universe England.