Bottom Line: Knoweth Thy Limits, Wise One. As I was pounding the rocks of Laurel Mountain on the mountain bike with a group of younger riders here in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, I was thinking strategy. At 63 years old, I am still in pretty good shape but the older I get, I start thinking about the old adage “age[Read More…]
It Can Happen, But Don’t Despair. Read On. Sarcopenia or muscle wasting is a condition which affects almost everyone starting about 50 years of age. Do you have it? Look in the mirror: Your once proud biceps and pectorals have sagged, your pants are falling down, no more butt, your legs look skinny. What looks like loose skin is really[Read More…]
A Veteran Ski Instructor Finds Nordic Matches His Senior Skiing Philosophy. Older, wiser, cheaper, what is this about? It reflects on what happens with age for most, but let’s put it into a skiing context. Having taught skiing since 1971, I’ve discovered these are the three adjectives that seem to reflect on one’s skiing philosophy with the passing of time.[Read More…]
Progressive Exercises From Easy To Difficult Can Help You Tone Up. Okay, it’s late October, and you’ve put this off long enough. You need to limber up for the upcoming snow season. Without topping up your muscles and stretching those ligaments, you can hurt yourself and have a very short season indeed. With some daily or weekly fitness routines, you[Read More…]
Here’s One Of The Most Important Stretches An Active Senior Can Do. [Editor Note: Our summer series Fitness Focus is taking a distinctive turn toward several important yoga positions. We’ve highlighted the Squat, the Plank, and now the Down Dog. We are a bit biased toward these poses because we have experienced personal progress and various muscle pain relief by[Read More…]
This Pose Is Considered The Simplest, Most Effective Core Strengthener. “Plank, plank, plank,” says Jan, the exercise instructor at the head of our class. After an hour of kick boxing, we start the floor exercises to end the session. We get into plank position as she intones, “Plank, plank, plank”. The seconds roll by. High plank or Phalakasana pose. The most glorious[Read More…]
Squat Lately? Try It Every Day For A Week And See What Happens. Editor Note: This week marks the beginning of our summer exercise series, Fitness Focus, where we will highlight one particular exercise, activity, stretch, or pose that leads to increased strength and flexibility. Our first is the ubiquitous, simple, and under-appreciated squat. Did you know the squat sit, or the[Read More…]
Stamina, skiing and senior skiers. Have you noticed that the older you get, you have to work out harder to maintain an ever-decreasing level of conditioning? Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know all the reasons but the reality is vigorous work-outs just delay the inevitable. As we get older our: Bodies aren’t as flexible; Bones are more brittle; Muscles don’t recover[Read More…]
Five Basic Exercises Ramped Up To High Intensity Levels. [Editor note: This is the third and final in our series of preparation exercises for senior skiers from Rick Silverman, physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. We started with basic hip and leg exercises (Oct 25), raised the intensity of those (Nov. 7) and now present a more challenging level of[Read More…]
Revving Up Intensity For Our Five Basic Exercises. [Editor Note: A couple of weeks ago, we introduced a set of baseline exercises focusing on legs and hips as part of a get-ready strategy for this season’s snow sports activities. This week, our exercise guide, physical therapist, certified strength and conditioning specialist and teleskier Rick Silverman, shows us how to up these[Read More…]
Ease Into Shaping Up For Snow Sports With Five Basic Exercises. [Editor Note: It’s time to focus on strengthening legs and hips for snow sports. This year, we are going to offer three “flights” of exercise with increasing challenge and intensity for the same group of muscles. We’ll publish these about two weeks apart, so get started now. We asked[Read More…]
Outdoor Expert Says Consider Your Purpose For Walking. [Editor Note: Steve Hines will be teaching a hiking boot fitting workshop at the REI in Reading, MA., on August 10 at 6:30 pm. If you are in the area, drop by REI at 279 Salem St. and say hi.] I like to hike. I hike for exercise, escape/“mental health” and to enjoy[Read More…]
Simple Tai Chi for Senior Skiers. [Editor Note: SeniorsSkiing.com welcomes Tommy Kirchhoff, a long-time ski instructor and a certified Tai Chi master. He has been teaching senior exercises for 12 years. Tai Chi is an ancient martial art that has evolved to slow-moving poses that is practiced all over the world.] I learned something valuable recently: my health and my[Read More…]
Are you tuning or terrifying your body? Some experts say stretching before exercise helps performance and lessens injuries. Others say stretching can cause damage. So what should you do? “Skiers who stretch at the top of a lift are crazy!” says Jo Garuccio, a PSIA Examiner, Snowbird ski instructor and Triathlon World Champion. “They’ve been on a cold lift and[Read More…]
Most Do, Many Don’t. Here are the results of our latest poll. We are curious about why people do and don’t. Please let us know in the “Comments” section below. And, we are researching an article on stretching for an upcoming issue. There are some exercise and physical therapists who say it’s essential, and some who say maybe not so[Read More…]
