Bree Harding’s ‘The Young and the Restless’ article on Wednesday, December 4 raises awareness about the overload of information on wellness.
So many of us have experimented with all manner of fads, and they are neither sustainable nor reliable.
People are different, and what works best for one may not for another.
However, there is one constant: movement is medicine.
It works, and always has.
Bree’s comment “not injured, you’re just old” is bandied about too often because we now know that ‘old’ is as much a state of mind as anything.
I did not start moving with motivation until I had well reached seniority in years.
You do not need fancy clothes or equipment.
Any movement works, and it can be done anywhere.
Grab a broom and sweep your path with attitude, use your broom as a tool to stretch your arms.
Use supports, a chair, a wall or a park bench, anything that is sturdy can be a prop for you.
Muscle and bone strength can improve/increase, providing you respect the safety boundaries.
This is not about aiming for longevity.
It is more about being functional so that we can get out of a chair unassisted; I want to be able to do my shoelaces up by myself while standing on one leg (yes, that is a thing); and I want to lift my teacup (or wine glass) with confidence.
I do hope that Bree’s bones are not really frail because age is a privilege.
Embrace it.
Maggie Turner-Miguel | Shepparton