Fifty is officially the new 40 (or possibly even 30, depending on who you believe) but that’s only the case if you manage to stay fit and active.
In the last part of our three-month wellness campaign, we take a look at ways to get fit without feeling the burn. For those of us whose body is more disco than temple, a slow introduction is very definitely in order. These five options will have you building your fitness in no time without the agony of a strenuous gym visit.
Walk Yourself Fit
You don’t need any special equipment, just some comfortable clothing, a pair of trainers and perhaps some earphones so you can stride out in time to your favourite tunes. As with all exercises, make sure you warm up and cool down with gentle stretches and take water with you to stay hydrated. Start at around 20 minutes and work up from there, as your fitness increases include bursts of fast power walking to build stamina.
Yoga
This ancient practice is one of the best and most gentle ways to get fit and it’s something you can take at your own pace. The only equipment you’ll need is a mat for the floor-based moves. There are classes all across the island from Bayoga in Juffair to Namaste on the Budaiya Highway. For something different why not try Anti-Gravity Yoga at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay.
Pilates
Known as the art of controlled movements, pilates involves a series of exercises, almost like slow gymnastics, which helps build strength and flexibility. You can take it at your own pace building up as you go along until your session feels like a real workout. Well-run classes will have an extensive warm-up and cool-down section so you shouldn’t ache the next day. You can find classes at Equilibrium in Saar and Dessange in Adliya.
Swimming
One of the best exercises for those who are starting out on their fitness journey. The water’s resistance means you will experience no stiffness after training and, once again, this is a discipline where you can build up as you go along. There are plenty of different strokes to work the various muscle groups and with most apartment buildings and compounds having pools, there really is no excuse not to dive in.
Online Workouts
If you want to get fit but really can’t find the time to establish a regular exercise routine, checkout the Fitness for the Over 50s series on YouTube which has a range of videos that
are easy to follow and varied in both length and intensity.
Whatever you choose, enjoy!
