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New Fitness Trends For
Boomers
By
Kathi Casey |
 I
am so delighted with all of the new fitness ideas surfacing
these days. From Nia to Zumba to Wii-Fit and Cardio Cinema –
innovative ideas just keep on coming! Many of the new crazes
involve dance and as a former dancer myself, I’m thrilled to
see these rise in popularity.
Zumba is a combination of fitness and Latin dance moves that
has really taken off – especially with Baby Boomers. Nia is
similar but combines Latin dance with tai chi and yoga for a
wonderful and fun workout. This fall, I am offering Nia
classes at my Healthy Boomer Body Center.
The importance of these fitness trends is that they are fun.
Many people have spent years avoiding their fitness
programs, using a variety of excuses, like not enough time,
a gym membership is costly, overworked and exhausted and the
list goes on. Research has proven, however, that when
something is fun, we humans are more apt to make the time
for it. And the popularity of shows like Dancing With The
Stars shows that many of us love to dance. Richard Simmons
made a career out of “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”
I have always recommended looking back to childhood to find
something physical that you loved to do like biking,
swimming, hiking, dancing, and then add it into your life
again, a little at a time, so that you enjoy life more and
keep fit and healthy at the same time. Many Boomers who are
taking dance classes like Zumba and Nia report having lost
weight, lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol and
they all say they feel fantastic!
Don’t be fooled by those who say you need to spend 60
minutes a day in the gym, or 30 minutes of cardio and
another 30 of weight training. Each of our bodies is
different and the same program that works great for me may
not work as well for you and vice-versa. Any exercise that
you do is valuable. The best way to make a permanent change
is to take one small step at a time. The clients that I’ve
coached have all made tremendous progress over the long term
with small, simple steps that don’t make you feel deprived,
or under any time constraints. And we’ve incorporated things
that each find fun or joyful into our daily routines. That
can be anything from dancing, walking the dog, horseback
riding, or even Hula Hooping with Michele Obama.
We Boomers are changing the old paradigms of aging as we go
and I see this resurgence of dancing for fitness as another
great health and fitness innovation that we will leave for
future generations. We are doing what we love to do and feel
passionate about in all areas of our lives: health, career,
relationships, financial, personal development, and now we
are re-defining retirement.
Can you think of a better legacy to leave our children and
grandchildren than the idea that when we all do what we love
for a living and for fun, the world is a happier, healthier
place?
For more information on baby boomer health and wellness,
please visit my web site: http://kathicaseypilates.com/en/personalized_
wellness_coaching/.
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About The Author
Kathy Casey, RYT, CPI is located in Otis and offers a
great deal of helpful information on her web site. For more
information on this and other health topics, you may visit
Kathi’s web site at www.KathiCaseyPilates.com and click on
the “Ask Kathi” button. For your free hand out on specific
exercises to get your hips, legs and abs in shape while
watching your favorite TV show, go to www.CoolBoomers.net.
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