Walking for your Lifetime
From the April / May newsletter, Gerontology Network
It seems there are more of us out walking these days; used to be a leisurely stroll after dinner was likely to be a solitary event – no more! These days we find people out walking with spouses, friends or other family members. And we are walking more often and in more places; the malls are often busy with Mall Walkers in the middle of winter, on rainy days and at all hours.
Leisurely walking is great for stress reductions but wont’ do much to boost your calorie burn or improve your heart health. To get a good workout, your walk should be brisk, but not too fast that you tire too fast. A great way to monitor yourself is that you should be able to carry-on a conversation without gasping, though it should take a little effort to talk. If you’re gasping, slow down a little.
Also, you don’t need to ‘sweat buckets’ but you should notice a little sweat on the forehead or upper lip; another indicator that you’re cruising at a perfect pace. Trust your instincts; you will gain speed as you get in better shape. It is recommended, that with all exercise regimes, that you check first with your doctor.
Studies have been conducted recently on walking’ benefits for older adults. An interesting finding is that negative stereotypes about aging play a role in the loss of walking speed and gait because people actually buy into the stereotypes. Positive images can help older adults make remarkable physical transformations.
Called Dynamic Walking, Dr. Suki Munsell is its founder. “I tell a person to imagine lifting his or her head into a crown, or to feel the glide; this creates a strong, healthy picture and has a wonderful impact on t he way people look and feel.”
Dr. Munsell recommends that older adults take an inventory of their personal images on aging; make sure the image bank is full of healthy and vibrant images rather than depressed people of age. This visual imaging will help in an older adults walking and in other phases of their lives. Positive mental images, help us all walk for our lifetime.
For more information on positive imaging and healthy aging, contact our Educational Services team at 977-3300 extension 213.