Tag: 50+ (Page 2 of 2)

Clothes for 50+: Where are they?

05/02/2016 / Laura

Okay, clothing retailers, listen up.

I don’t care if you create clothing for the office, the beach, the gym, the couch, or any other use…for women or men…you have some explaining to do.

Why is it that an average-sized woman, let’s say a 10 or 12, goes to the store to try and find something and discovers that suddenly, even the extra large does not fit her?

Or a man who is a bit taller than average and maybe has a normal physique plus a few extra pounds finds himself having to check out the big or “hefty” section?

Where are the clothes that fit us…those of us who are not size 2? Are there really millions of people so pencil-thin they can wear skin-tight clothing and smile?

Odd. I sure don’t see them at the movies.

Or in the grocery store.

Or walking their dogs.

Or in a business meeting.

What I do see is a whole generation of people over 50 who are healthy, active, and yes, probably have a mid-section a bit larger than when they were 25. Guess what. It happens.

And it’s perfectly okay.

We still need to wear clothes. We’d still like to look nice…attractive…even sexy at times. And we’d like to do it all and still be able to exhale.

So where are we supposed to go for an outfit?

I find it most annoying when I’m trying to find so-called “active wear” that actually lets me be active without passing out from strangulation. You know, loose pants for yoga. Soft, breathable materials for T-shirts that have actual sleeves. Exercise shorts that don’t cut off circulation.

I mean, like many boomers and beyond, I’m trying to tone myself and be stronger…so why are there no clothes that understand this?

Excuse us for living. We’re over 50. We’re a major force when it comes to retail sales.

And we’re getting tired of being ignored.

I have no desire to try and look 25. I don’t have the energy. I celebrate my wrinkles, gray, and extra rolls that come with normal aging. But I also am not ready to cut holes in a gunny sack and head out the door. And sorry, but I know I’m not an extra extra large. And even if I were, I would expect you, Mr. Clothier, to want to help me look as good as I can. And quite frankly, I think you’re failing. Because most of the clothes I see that I guess are aimed at me are either unwearable, or flat-out ugly.

And this whole skinny jeans craze is not a healthy message to women or men….to look so thin that you disappear. To be ashamed you can’t get in a size zero. (Now if you are very thin naturally, or you are struggling with an eating disorder, God bless you. You also deserve to look as good as possible. But that’s not the point here.)

I call upon all the brands….Nike, REI, Liz Claiborne, Charter Club, Everlast, Prana, and others, as well as men’s fashions…don’t ignore us. Don’t ask us to be something we’re not. Go out on a limb and come up with some “active boomer” clothes….and I don’t mean what June and Ward Cleaver wore. I’m talking comfort. Style. And realistic sizes.

Help us want to be seen. So we can exercise. Travel. Laugh. Live. And yes, spend money on your products.

We’re rocking the wrinkle. You can too. And you’ll be glad you did.

“Never wear anything that panics the cat.”

P.J. O’Rourke

Fit After 50.

03/07/2016 / Laura

Let’s talk about balance.

Not the kind that we never can achieve (balance between home, work, family, sanity), but rather the type of balance that might determine whether or not we can stay independent as we age.

Whole body balance. Balance that improves as we become physically stronger. Balance that keeps us walking straight, feeling healthy and hopefully, in our own homes as long as possible.

Why is balance so important for boomers and beyond? Because by the time most of us hit 50, we’ve lost 15 to 20% of our strength.

Imagine. Just that statistic can explain why you’re having trouble carrying in the dog food. Or walking up the stairs with laundry. Or having to sit down to put on your pants.

Ouch.

But the good news is how quickly a healthy person in his or her 60s can gain muscle…as much as two to three pounds of muscle in six months to a year.

Here’s the catch: you have to actually get up and work out. That does not necessarily mean you have to become Mr. or Ms. Olympia, or walk into a hard-body gym and feel intimidated next to the 20-somethings in their spandex.

Thank heavens more and more places are springing up that cater to those of us 50 and over who want to get in shape and feel better, but don’t want the traditional gym experience.

One such place is Welcyon. There’s only a few so far in the country and already, response has been great.

What makes Welcyon so popular? It’s smaller, calmer, and feels more plush than a regular rec center or gym. The staff is small, knowledgeable, and welcoming. And the equipment is specially geared for a workout that while it feels smoother and easier, is actually more effective at building strength than the traditional heavy-plate method.

And best of all, it’s for 50+. Thank heavens. No flipping monster tires or hurling a sledgehammer or other activities that are too high risk.

Daniel Mason, owner of the Welcyon in Lakewood, Colorado, explains. “Our strength equipment uses air resistance, not clunky weight stacks. The result is a challenging workout that actually works you harder, but doesn’t stress your joints and ligaments like a traditional machine. With air resistance, you are working your body evenly…instead of your stronger side compensating and throwing you off balance.”

Cardio machines at Welcyon are also air-driven, so the motion is smooth and even.

But what really sets the technology of Welcyon apart is this: once you’ve been assessed by one of the center’s professional coaches and your routine is determined, all you have to do on your next visit is insert the card into a reader on the machine and you’re set to go. The equipment…lets says it’s the machine that works your abdomen…”recognizes” you and automatically sets to the correct number of pounds you are working. If there is a seat adjustment, it lists that information so you can do it quickly and easily. Of course you can raise or lower the intensity of your workout at any time…but how cool is that? Instead of walking in and trying to remember what you’ve been doing, or struggling with changing a setting, it’s all done for you.

I personally love that. I confess I’ve discovered Welcyon and am a member. And I love it. Why?

It’s comfortable. I like walking into an environment where mature people are focusing on feeling better and getting stronger, as opposed to competing.

It’s inviting. Welcyon gyms are smaller. There’s a soothing water feature. Everything is new and clean and purposeful. There’s a sitting area for socializing. The background music is very low, and it’s a surprisingly wonderful blend of boomer, big band, and a bit of classical.

It’s smart. Each strength machine greets you by name, sets your resistance, counts reps and adjusts your workouts, making them progressively more challenging as you improve. The ellipticals have a built-in fan (I really love that). You feel like you are making efficient use of your time when you are there.

It’s safe. Welcyon coaches know what they are doing and how to guide you, whether you’ve exercised your whole life, are just starting out, or are recovering from an injury. There’s a dedicated area for stretching after working out to help keep you from overdoing. There’s even an interesting balance “clock” on the floor that helps develop your all-important reflexes.

It’s motivating. I want to go to Welycon. I’ve worked out my whole life off and on, with personal trainers, in classes, doing just about everything…and I always liked how it made me feel, but I never particularly looked forward to going. This feels different…I like the idea of exercising around others over 50.

But this isn’t really about going to a particular gym. No matter where you live or what type of exercise experience is available, you can get stronger…it’s so important. Many recreation centers offer classes for people over 50. You could start one of your own. If nothing else, gather a few neighbors and start a brisk walking program in the neighborhood. Go by a sporting goods store and check out the free weights or kettle balls. Be careful…and start slow…but don’t just sit there…get up and get moving.

Exercise has been called the “fountain of youth” because nothing else has been proven to be as effective when it comes to enhancing our overall health and longevity. I know for me, I have fewer aches and pains when I’m regularly exercising. I sleep better. I think better. I like the feeling of being steady on my feet and knowing I can pick up something, hold my balance in Tai chi, carry a child up the stairs, etc.

You might start out saying “can I do it?”

Chances are in no time you’ll be saying “how far can I go?”

“I don’t care how old I live; I just want to be LIVING while I am alive!”

Jack LaLanne

Learn Tai chi for lifelong fitness.

12/08/2014 / Laura

(First of a 2-part series on the benefits of Tai chi for anyone 50 and better who wants a lifelong physical activity with important health advantages.)

Winter’s chill makes it easy to want to just curl up in a quilt with a cup of something warm and sit by a fire…throw in a cat for lap warmth and a dog to snuggle by your feet and you have a scene that’s hard to resist. Problem is, the more you sit, the stiffer you get, the stiffer you get, the more you sit. And while weather may lull you into sitting more the next few months, why not spend some of that time committing yourself to trying something new—an activity that will get you moving, your blood flowing and work your muscles and bones in a safe and gentle manner?

An activity new you can do now, or begin in 2015, and continue for the rest of your life.

For many of us over 50, it’s not practical or even desirable to consider high impact activities. Our joints just aren’t what they used to be. We don’t want to jump up and down on steps, run around a track, row an imaginary boat or climb stairs for an hour. But we want to feel good, and we want to extend our longevity.

Suggestion: Tai chi.

Tai chi has been called both meditation in motion and medication in motion. It’s an ancient Chinese martial art that’s also a holistic approach to mental and physical health and well being. There are many styles and forms of Tai chi, all focused on enabling the “qi” or life force to flow smoothly throughout the body. More than 300 million people worldwide practice—or as practitioners say—“play”—Tai chi.

Tai chi’s benefits range from greater flexibility and balance to improved bone density, a stronger immune system and lower blood pressure. (More specifics on benefits later.)

Most importantly, Tai Chi is something you can start at any age and keep doing for life.

Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Tai chi instructor Tim Murphy, who introduced me to Tai chi a few years ago. (I had never done anything like Tai chi before, and was well past 50.) Tim is a certified Tai chi Instructor For Energy, a certified Tai chi Instructor for Arthritis, and a certified Tai chi Instructor for the American Association of Aerobics Instructors. He has taught Tai chi for more than 20 years. He also is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer PADI (25 years experience), a Level 2 Ski instructor PSIA (10 years) and is certified to teach kickboxing for NAPMA and Yoga for AAAI.

Tim’s first experience with Tai chi was using it as a warm-up for a Karate class. He appreciated the softness of Tai chi in contrast to the more rigid style of the class he was participating in. Years later, he and his brother became more interested in Tai chi for the same reason many boomers do…to find a physical activity they could do for life.

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue to do a lot of the contact sports I had always done, like boxing and football,” said Tim. “My brother and I both wanted something we could do for the rest of our lives, regardless of age or health issues.” His interest in Tai chi has not faded over the past 20+ years he has been teaching.

“Tai Chi is like an onion, with many layers. The first movement you learn is the first layer. As you get deeper and deeper into the form, the onion principle just keeps going…you are still peeling layers off the onion years later.”

Tai chi is truly for everyone, and it’s especially beneficial to baby boomers and those with even more years to their credit.

“The skeleton responds to stresses. If you are sedentary, your bones are not being stressed and your muscles are not being used. But the human body is a wonderful thing. When you start to work in any kind of exercise, you body responds to the effort and increases its level of stasis, or fitness. So your level of fitness is directly related to your level of activity. If your activity level is low, your level of stasis is low because you are not moving.

“Become active again, and your body responds…as though it’s asking, “Why are you walking now? You haven’t walked in years!” This begins to raise your level of fitness. As we get older, it’s even more important. Consider degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis. We need activities that support and boost our level of stasis, without having a high level of impact that would be harmful to our joints. If you run a mile, and it hurts, you don’t run anymore. But do something that does not hurt, but is a weight-bearing exercise…and your skeleton responds positively. This is critical as we age.

“Our bodies don’t wither away because we get older. Our bodies wither away because we stop using them. Tai Chi is a weight-bearing activity that stimulates your skeleton but does not impact your joints like harder exercise.”

And what about the person who’s recovering from an accident, stroke, or injury? Or a bed-bound or wheelchair-bound individual? Can Tai chi even be possible?

Yes, says Tim emphatically. He should know, as he’s had students of all ages who face these challenges.

“One of my students was a 92-year-old woman who had fallen and broken her femur, and was now using a walker. When she returned to our class, I had everyone sit in chair, and we did the entire form seated. We were still able to do the arm movements, the body turns, and get the good benefits of the postures.

“I think many times we tend to be self-limiting, and think we can’t do something. People will tell you can’t do that because you’re getting older. If you accept that, it becomes your limitation. But you must challenge that. How many times do we see people walk again after an injury—and they had been told that wasn’t even possible?”

Tai chi is graceful, fascinating, relaxing and a lot of fun!

I’ve said before how much I enjoy playing Tai chi. Just the names of a few of the postures—part the wild horse’s mane, white crane spreads its wings, grasp the peacock’s tail—are enticing enough to compel me to want to do each move with as much fluidity and purpose as I can. As Tim has said before, it’s hard to describe how you feel after doing Tai chi for an hour: exhilarated; yet peaceful; tired yet filled with a new energy. It’s helped me in many ways. I love it.

Tai chi is for every age.
Standing, or seated, you can do some form or movement.
You can play Tai chi alone or with a group, and just about anywhere—on the beach, in your hotel room, at the garden, in your office, on a mountain trail.
You don’t need any special equipment or clothing. Be comfortable.
You can keep progressing and improving your skills.
There are many movements and many forms.
Feeling the “qi” is a very powerful experience!
Tai chi has multiple benefits for better health.

Coming up in my next post, I’ll share some scientifically proven (and somewhat amazing) health benefits of this ancient art, talk about “Qi”…what is it, what does it feel like, and how you can connect with it, plus share Tim’s advice for how to get started. Hope you’ll check back in!