It’s Healthy Aging Month! From the day we are born, we are aging. People all around the country celebrate and honor this month by incorporating habits like exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting adequate sleep into their daily routines. It is also an opportunity to encourage others to stay active and take positive steps towards improving both physical and mental health.
Pick an activity. Choose TODAY to make a change in your lifestyle. Choose something you enjoy – walking, gardening, or incorporating more water into your diet – and commit to it.
Did you know? Physical activity and exercise have TONS of benefits. Some of them include:
- Stimulating the growth of new brain cells.
- Slowing down the aging process.
- Making your skin healthier by clearing dead cells and debris from pores when you sweat during exercise.
Healthy Aging Month is a great time to remind ourselves (and others) to stay healthy. If you are unsure of where to start, consider a Functional Fitness Test. The assessment focuses on determining health and wellness strengths, as well as areas of opportunity.
What’s Assessed?
- Upper Body Strength (carrying grandchildren or groceries)
- Lower Body Strength (climbing the stairs)
- Flexibility (reaching the top shelf, fixing your hair)
- Endurance (walking further, playing with grandchildren)
- Balance (Fall Prevention)
- Cognition
This is also GREAT preparation for Active Aging Week, which is October 2 – 8. Active Aging week is right around the corner, and it’s an annual weeklong campaign aimed at celebrating and highlighting the positive aspects of aging.
Make sure to celebrate Healthy Aging Month all through September!