Knee’s & toes, knees & toes…
Remember this old rhyme recited with your young children, or with your parents when you were a youngster? As it was recited, you would touch the mentioned body parts, joyfully reaching, bending and touching with each mention of a part from top to bottom, or head to toes, as it were. What a fun teaching moment and exercise activity.
Try that now, but be careful. You’re not a kid, anymore.
Try gracefully moving those once supple muscles that flowed like melting butter and joints that moved like a well oiled hinge. Not as easy, now, is it.
With a good effort, I find that I can still do it, bend and reach, but at a slower pace, at least initially, and with a slight hesitation, trying my best to remember where those parts are (ala ‘The Macarena dance). Yes, the rhythm and pace is entirely different today.
However, I still try because moving is important. And, with a slight modification, I think I’ve created a new version, one meant strictly for us Seniors which I call the ‘pain game’. Touch the spots where it hurts…
“Head, neck, shoulders and elbows… shoulders and elbows…. Head, neck, shoulders and elbows…. Wrist and fingers, too!”
That’s just the upper torso. A second verse covers hips, knees and feet.
Get the picture? Remember, it’s for fun and exercise, even if it hurts a little…and it will.
While this is all in jest, it does point out a message for those of us of a certain ilk, ‘senior citizens’, it’s important to keep moving.
At my local health club, I see Seniors in the pool, on the equipment, in classes, moving. Not as fast nor as smoothly as the younger patrons, or our younger selves, but still moving.
Every seat in the chair exercise classe is filled with Seniors moving, stretching, bending, reaching, pushing themselves to get and stay fit. It’s admirable.
Today, I heard an interview with a world class athlete, Colin O’Brady. He’s climbed all the highest peaks in the world and in each U.S. state in record time and is the first person to traverse Antarctica by foot, alone, pulling a 300 pound supply sled. His excellent book,, ‘The Impossible First’, describes this venture.
Colin’s newest project is to get people moving, alone with only your thoughts, unencumbered by cell phones, at your pace, resting when necessary, for 12 hours. His new book, The ‘12 Hour Walk’ gives you the motivation to take the challenge. I’m thinking about doing it. Only thinking, now, but with each chapter I read, the more appealing it sounds. It’ll certainly keep me moving for awhile, at least 12 hours, just me and my thoughts.
Not sure that I have 12 hours of thoughts.
S'amusing 
Your post is a reminder that I need to get more exercise. The exercises I do briefly in the morning just aren’t enough.
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Liz, want some motivation? Read the book, ‘The 12 Hour Walk’. It’s inspiring. I do exercise a pretty good amount and it helps in many ways, physically and mentally. Thanks for commenting.
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I like heading to the gym right after the work crowd leaves. That’s a prime time for retirees. I know one thing—we’ve got to keep using our bodies and our minds.
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Spot on, Pete. What’s your workout routine?
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75% cardio, 15% weights, 10% yakking to others. Got to keep those jaw muscles functioning.🤣 I was going six days a week, but my body says only 3-4 days per week now.
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Yea, I’m big on the yakking. Probably the easiest part of the workout. I water walk vigorously for 30 minutes…in the water, not on it, then 10-15 minutes in the sauna. Not much yakking in there. Then daily morning walks and other exercises for a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis. Vigorous exercise is supposed to be good, any exercise actually. I’ve always been a moderate exerciser but now I’m trying to up my game. Your routine sounds good. Keep it up.
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This hit home Steve! Chair exercise classes are out speed along with walking 5 to 6 days a week (though not for 12 hours!)
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Just keep moving, Meg. It feels good. Thanks for reading and commenting on my ‘musings’. Have a great day!
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Worthy goals, Steve. Worth trying. Thanks.
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I’m thinking about it, Jim. Trying to get by the reasons not yo do it. They’re weak😂. I’ll keep you abreast.
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I walk everyday, weather permitting. I pass one of my neighbors who encourages me. He says he stopped walking because he found it boring and after six or eight months, he couldn’t walk around the block. Now he uses a walker. I don’t know about 12 hours, but I can do 20-30 minutes each morning.
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That’s a great way to start the day. I walk our dog every morning, generally a mile. Then on to other exercises as the day progresses. As for the 12 hour walk, it’s a fascinating challenge. If you want some motivation, then his book will do it. I bought it on my Kindle and each chapter has a very brief video. He’s done some unbelievable things that challenge his body and mind. We can all do a bit more, can’t we. Thanks for commenting, Dan. Have a great day!
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Good grief, are we really getting that old? I guess it could be worse! Thanks for thinking of me. Actually, my knees have not improved at all, but it is what it is, I just keep on moving the best they can, that’s all any of us can do, our best every minute of every day.
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Hi Steve, I certainly do remember this song. Joints and muscles start stiffening as soon as you hit 40. I agree you have to keep moving. Use it or lose it. I hope you are doing well.
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They sure do, almost overnight. You’re sailing along and, ‘WHACK”, Mother Nature locks every joint, or something else. Me, I’m okay. The left leg trembles but the biggest thing I feel is fatigue. I seem to tire easily. Am taking naps almost daily. Never did that. But , it gives me a chance to think about writing something. Then, I forget it🥴.
How are you and the family? Your Spring is just around the corner. Excited, I bet.
Great hearing from you, Robbie.
Steve
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Hi Steve,
Glad that you tapped on my shoulder at the Y and we reconnected. Always enjoyed your creative and ‘living breathing’ blogs.
I think school Jym teachers should bring classes to the Y and show seniors on chairs doing the exercises. The students will internalize the importance of exercise.
Dursh Bains
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Dursh, thank you. I agree on our reconnecting. It’s great talking with you, again. And, yes, moving throughout life is critical for sustaining life. See you at the Y.
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Something tells me you do have 12 hours of thoughts!!! My favorite yoga teacher said three very important words to me over 13 years ago. NEVER STOP MOVING! It doesn’t matter the speed, what matters is the intention and the movement at any pace. Old is only a word!
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And have you followed that sage advice, regularly? It does get more challenging as we get older, I mean, age, but the foundation that we build in the early years helps us meet that challenge. Thanks for commenting.
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Games and exercise classes of any sort also challenge the brain; have you touched your knees before your brain realised it was Shoulders! Any movement is good and even if you think you get plenty of exercise walking, gardening etc you discover in Wellness Pilates or Health Circuits etc parts of your body you hadn’t thought of stretching! I love walking, but you won’t find me trying that Ultra Marathon the English woman just completed! Good luck with your twelve hours.
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