At 5:30 a.m. the downtown Victoria YMCA opens it doors to a sea of people, most with grey hair.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e lined up around the block,B次元官网网址� said one YMCA employee. B次元官网网址淔or some seniors, coming to the Y is a big part of their day.B次元官网网址�
For 87-year-old Bill Hughes, visiting the community centre is a daily routine B次元官网网址� and one that keeps him feeling young.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 look a day over forty,B次元官网网址� Hughes said, chuckling. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 as sharp as IB次元官网网址檝e ever been.B次元官网网址�
The daily exercise and B次元官网网址渢he nice peopleB次元官网网址� he meets at the YB次元官网网址檚 Health Club makes him happy, he added. Plus, thereB次元官网网址檚 perksB次元官网网址攆ree talcum powder and hair products B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渋f you have any hair.B次元官网网址�
A former professional water skier, Hughes retired thirty years ago, the same year he joined the Y where classes for suitable for seniors include: Senior Strength, Senior Cardio, and in the pool, Gentle Flow Aqua and Gentle Aqua Fit.
Senior Strength was so popular that another class was created to manage the overflow, said program supervisor, Litzia Eccleston,
HughesB次元官网网址� favourite class is Cyclefit, which is held in BurtB次元官网网址檚 Bike Room, named for the 94-year-old regular who left provisions in his will to outfit the room. Hughes believes regular cycling staves off AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 Disease.
B次元官网网址淚t pumps that blood to the brain, and AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 is about blood congestion, so anything that helps that flow is good,B次元官网网址� he said.
There are currently 584 gym members between the ages of 70 and 80 and 127 in the 80 to 90 age bracket and 11 members in the over 90s club, who receive free membership.
And for seniors in Victoria, thereB次元官网网址檚 more than one choice to get the daily workouts in.
Retired physiotherapist Stephen Lamb attends up to three exercise classes at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. The 84-year-old believes regular physical activity helped him recover from a stroke in Feb. 2017.
B次元官网网址淥h, God, yes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎s soon as a person regains consciousness and they can move around, they gotta get at it.B次元官网网址�
Lamb worked for 60 years and retired only two years ago. He said heB次元官网网址檇 be much stiffer and probably weaker without moving daily.
B次元官网网址淣o matter what your age, regular exercise will make a difference in your life,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Ian Bekker, who works at the Saanich Peninsula Health Unit Geriatrics Clinic.
B次元官网网址淚n the hot air balloon ride of life, age is like the opening at the top of the balloon slowly bringing you back to earth, while exercise is the fire at the bottom of the balloon that keeps your view marvellous,B次元官网网址� he explained.
After the age of 40, the body is B次元官网网址渋ncreasingly interested in winding things up,B次元官网网址� Bekker added.
B次元官网网址淓xercise is the only way to signal to the body that vitality is still required. Telling your body to swim, climb, row or bike is speaking to all the cells of your body, B次元官网网址楾here are still things left to do, keep this body in good shape.B次元官网网址�
In almost every one of his geriatric assessments, Bekker recommends more exercise.
B次元官网网址淚t is going to reduce their chance of falling or reduce the progression of their dementia,B次元官网网址� and he gives the analogy of squeezing a ball to make the hand stronger.
B次元官网网址淎lternatively, anything that is good for your cardiovascular health is good for your brain. Sweat on the outside releases brain building chemistry on the inside.B次元官网网址�
Although starting an exercise program may be daunting, Hughes, who is looking for to joining the YB次元官网网址檚 over 90s club, advises: B次元官网网址淭ake your time, stop when you need to and donB次元官网网址檛 try to keep up with anyone. Go at your own pace.B次元官网网址�
