You know that exercise is the key to physical fitness, especially later in life. But did you also know that fitness is, in turn, the key to wellness, or our overall wellbeing, as we age?
That’s right. Having strength, stamina, and agility well after 50 are integral to maintaining our quality of life at any age. Not only does it improve our physical health, but fitness also is the bedrock of maintaining the other components of wellness, including our emotional and spiritual lives.
If we have our health, we have everything it is said. If we’re fit, we can maintain our independence and zest for living at any stage of life.
What Is Wellness?
Maybe you’ve heard wellness discussed and wonder what that word means.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) writes, “People often think about wellness in terms of physical health — nutrition, exercise, weight management, etc., but it is so much more. Wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit.”
There are many definitions, all generally meaning the same thing. We like this from one from the University of California:
“Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, and it is a dynamic process of change and growth.”
Most experts list six to eight categories. Feel free to adapt the list as necessary but remember to keep it as broad and robust as your life. Here’s the breakdown provided by the International Council on Active Aging:
- Physical – Exercise and nutrition are essential to maintaining independence and health. Period.
- Emotional – “coping with challenges and behaving in trustworthy and respectful ways.”
- Intellectual/Cognitive – “engaging in creative pursuits and intellectually stimulating activities.”
- Professional/Vocational – using your “skills while providing personal satisfaction,” including as mentors, volunteers, caregivers, and more in retirement.
- Social – “interactions with family, friends, neighbors and chosen peer groups.”
- Spiritual – “living with meaning and purpose in life, guided by personal values.”
- Environmental – practicing habits that promote a healthy environment; understanding how different environments affect you.
Why Habits Are So Important
The NIH makes no bones about it.
“Habits very much influence health, well-being, and quality of life. If you are striving to improve these, you need to think about habits, because if you change your habits for the better, you change your life for the better,” it says.
Making good changes and reinforcing good habits are helped by strategies like scheduling, accountability, convenience, and more.
In other words, even if you are over 50-years-old, being part of a gym or fitness community is an invaluable way to build the solid wellness you want and deserve. Let our team of Certified Functional Aging Specialists help you start or continue on the lifelong journey to wellness.
Call or email us now to get started on a functional exercise program that will get you fit for life. You can do this!
Not local? Find a Certified Functional Aging Specialist near you.
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