Are your muscles wearing well?

Wearing Well™ is not just about looking good, it’s also about your physical and emotional wellbeing.  We are often told we must keep our strength up, especially as we age, and this can refer to both our physical and mental strength and resilience - and the best and most effective way to do this is by taking regular exercise.  For many people the word exercise holds no appeal, perhaps this goes way back to your school days when you were forced to play games in the freezing cold or to leap over things in the gym when your body was clearly not built for this type of action.   Or perhaps you’ve just got out of the habit of exercising and prefer to sit and read or watch television or you can’t find the time or, indeed, you simply can’t be bothered! 

If you do take any form of regular exercise, you will certainly notice the benefits.  I love to walk early in the morning when the air is fresh and there are not so many people about.  It’s also a great time to think things through. When my last relationship ended the thing that was most effective in helping me process my distress and get back on track was fast walking. I also do Pilates twice a week – now on Zoom of course – and this works my core muscles and upper body.  

Although muscles gradually deteriorate as we age, we can slow this down through regular exercise - remember the old adage, ‘use it or lose it’!  If your muscles have become very neglected from lack of activity, then you will need to start to build them up slowly and gently. It needs to be little and often, rather than the occasional punishing session.   You may be looking for muscle strength, power or endurance, all of which can be achieved by different types of training, but it’s also just as important to keep muscles stretched so they are flexible. Keeping a good balance between your muscle strength and flexibility will help you maintain your posture and full range of mobility. There is nothing more ageing than a rounded back and stiff gait.  As I’ve got older I’ve certainly noticed I stiffen up a lot more first thing in the morning and if I’ve been sitting for any length of time, but as soon as I start to move my muscles soon warm up and kick back into action. 

Another reason your muscles can grow tight is because of tension.  When you’re stressed, angry or anxious your muscles can tense up, particularly around your neck and shoulders.  Releasing these muscles through gentle stretching exercises or massage can not only help you relax your physical tension, but also help dispel your emotional tensions.  To be even more effective use your breathing - first take a deep breath in and then breathe out slowly as you stretch and relax.

Why not give it a go? Now is a great time to start to working some muscle magic!