Lifting weights and going to the gym is so often targeted at a younger audience, but it is just as important, perhaps even more so to look after your body and strength as you get older. With age also comes an insight into what is most important to you and, what isn’t. You already know what you enjoy doing, who you want to spend time with and where you want to be – now you just need the functional strength, balance and mobility to make sure you can live your life the way you want to.

Resistance training helps to lessen the effects of many common issues that can occur after the age of 60. Just a couple of sessions a week of strength training can reduce or reverse the loss of bone density, strength, muscle mass, poor posture and cognitive decline.

Use it or lose it – you’ve heard it before, and it’s no different when it comes to our bodies. Strength training 2-3 times a week can also decrease bone loss. By stressing your bones when you put them under load, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Pair your strength training with some balance work and this means your less likely to have a fall, and less likely to hurt yourself if you do.

And it’s not just your muscles and bones reaping the benefits. Both strength training and cardio can even help combat depression by increasing endorphins. They also help to supply more oxygen to the brain keeping it healthy and able to function at its best reducing cognitive decline.

Gravity is constantly pulling us down to earth and exacerbating any postural issues we have over time. Learning to stand and sit with good posture can decrease the wearing of joint surfaces, help you to breathe easier and can also reduce your chances of experiencing back, neck and other aches and pains. Good posture is important for the sensory systems that help with balance too.

As you get older a slower metabolism can mean weight gain. Regular strength training can help reduce this by increasing muscle mass and metabolic rate. This allows you to burn more calories over the course of the day – even when you’re resting.

Perhaps the best reason to work on your strength, balance and mobility is to gain functional movement. Moving in the right way can reduce aches and pains as well as making it easier to put your socks on in the morning. It will help to avoid unnecessary injury while carrying out day to day tasks, keep you active outside, working in the garden and enable you to keep up with the grandkids!

The benefits of strength training are almost limitless, but in order to reap the rewards it is important to have someone helping you to ensure you exercise safely and to the best of your ability during your training sessions. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing health conditions, in which case you should check with your doctor first and ask if there is any movements you shouldn’t be doing.

Your Personal Trainer can also help you warm up and cool down properly, learn how to use your body correctly and monitor your exercise technique. Recovery can slow with age but with a good plan of attack, the guidance of a Trainer and sufficient rest between and during training sessions you’ll be sure to recover fully, get stronger and be able to do what you love for years to come.

If the prospect of working out sounds a bit overwhelming the good news is the team at FORM Fitness is here to support you! It’s never too late to begin a regular exercise program. A good Personal Trainer will be able to start you at a level that feels right for you and create a program that is tailored to suit your body, your goals and your lifestyle. So if your keen to enjoy life to its fullest and reap the benefits of regular strength training contact us now to start your journey to a more active and enjoyable life.