Why should we make time to keep flexible? I am, without a doubt, far less flexible these days. I have not until recently donated enough time to bother with it. So I was glad that I had finally started to listen to my body. I am about to reach half a century. How?
I have started having more sports/deep tissue massages at my practice (obviously!). It is an alternative to always giving them but never taking a dose of my own medicine.
I added the deep stretch class to my weekly itinerary of exercising. It feels so much better with my local strength, cardio and pilates classes at Total Body Fitness in Warlingham. I can combine online training on my busy days with some (strictly socially distanced) fitness classes. These events have been inside the local halls and outside in the parks, which is perfect.
My new 21-year-old body (I wish) did save me the other day, though. I nearly went flat on my face over a tree root on a fast walk/slow lollop in the woods. It made me realise that taking extra care of my hip flexors during the previous weeks had paid off. I was able to save myself from the fall. It was in a way that I would not have been able to previously. I speak from the experience of a few embarrassing falls along the way!
Why should we make time to keep flexible explained!
I didn’t ache the next day after challenging myself to a 5km run at a reasonable pace. The difference? Flexibility. My body can now noticeably withstand more physical stress and feels less pain daily, even though I am getting older. If I’m honest, I am around half to two thirds as fit as I was in my 30’s and 40’s.
Regardless of this, the flexibility has helped me with improved physical performance. I have finally learned the meaning in the life of BALANCE, both mentally and physically. This philosophy that I must always be working and always break a sweat when exercising has provided newfound freedom. In turn, it has given me a much-needed uplift of spirits. I brought back my positive state of mind post lockdown.
