A lot of the health and wellness sphere is focused on preventing aging, but some of the most important work should be focused on preparing for aging. Stretch therapy, fitness, and physical therapy are all tools that can improve your wellness now, but they are also tools that can help prepare your body for what’s to come as you age. Putting in the work to prepare your body and develop healthy habits now can help you live a life full of doing what you love. In this blog, we’ll explore some things you can start doing that your future self will thank you for!
What Areas of Fitness Should I Focus On Now To Help My Future Self?
Aerobic Activity
What it is: Activities that get your heart rate up and increase your breathing.
Benefits: Improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Examples: Walking, running, swimming, cycling, dancing.
What can you do if you struggle with this: If you struggle with aerobic exercise, focus on recovery to promote your body’s ability to adapt to stress. In combination with continuing to do aerobic exercise, this can help reduce how difficult this type of exercise can feel.
Strength Training
What it is: Exercises that strengthen your muscles.
Benefits: Builds muscle mass and bone density, which naturally decline with age, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in the future.
Examples: Lifting weights, using resistance bands, or performing body-weight exercises like push-ups and squats.
What can you do if you struggle with this: If you’re having a hard time getting into strength training, whether it’s understanding proper form, struggling to develop a workout plan, or failing to stay consistent, working with a personal trainer can help you stick to a plan that works for you.
Balance Exercises
What it is: Activities that improve your stability and coordination.
Benefits: Reduces your risk of falls as you age.
Examples: Tai chi, yoga, walking heel-to-toe, or standing from a seated position.
What can you do if you struggle with this: If you already have balance problems and worry about how that affects your daily life now and the impact it will have in the future, you can work with a physical therapist to improve your balance and address any other underlying issues.
Flexibility
What it is: Exercises that stretch your muscles.
Benefits: Keeps your body limber, improves range of motion, and helps prevent stiffness.
Examples: Yoga, Pilates, and other forms of stretching.
What can you do if you struggle with this: If you find stretching to be difficult and are worried about injuring yourself, you can consider stretch therapy. This is a form of assisted stretching that can help improve your flexibility.
What Are Some Habits I Can Incorporate Into My Daily Life?
Starting a fitness journey that not only focuses on supporting the body you have now but the body you will have decades in the future can feel like a daunting task. There are plenty of isolated changes you can start making today that will help lay the groundwork for the healthiest version of yourself for years to come. Some of the things you can do are:
- Incorporate movement whenever possible
- Eat nutrient-dense food
- Focus on the quantity and quality of your sleep
- Work on managing stress
- Keep up with regular doctor’s appointments
- Don’t ignore pain or injuries
- Prioritize staying hydrated
- Limit sedentary time
- Stretch your body daily
- Be proactive about your health
Where Can I Find Health And Wellness Support In Virginia?
If you’re located near the Falls Church or McLean area, then you’re in luck! Advanced Kinetics can help you along your health journey. Whether you need personal training, massage therapy, physical therapy, injury prevention services, stretch therapy, or recovery services, we have the tools and team to help. If you want to learn more about our services and how we can help you on your journey, get in touch with us!
