Exercise is essential as we age. Seventeen years of research from the Scripps Research Translational Institute found that is the key to healthy aging.
Wanting to understand why some people age so well, they decoded the DNA of 1,400 people over the age of 80. The researchers were surprised to find the people didn’t have much genetically in common. There was no “aging gene.” What they saw as they continued to study “super agers” was that people who stayed healthy, mentally sharp and mobile as they aged all kept physically fit with exercise.
We have written in the past about the benefits of exercising at home. There are free apps and YouTube videos that stop you from needing a gym membership. And we often say that chores are a form of exercise. However, there are benefits to attending classes that you can’t reap at home.
It’s hard to always stay motivated at home. How many treadmills become drying racks for clothes after a few months? It happens to so many of us. When you are in a class, there is social support from the teacher and your classmates. You grow relationships and have a commitment.
It can become a social activity to exercise once you have friends in a class. Or you can take a class with a family member. “Just knowing that that person is going to be waiting for you to come to the gym can help you get out the door,” said Traci Thompson, an assistant professor of health, kinesiology and recreation at the Univ. of Utah.
Strength training is critical as we age, as it slows the loss of lean muscle. While it can be done at home using your own body weight, it can require dumbbells and bands to achieve. It may be cheaper to attend a class at a community center than to buy your own equipment. And you can learn how to properly use it in a class. If you have balance issues, a class may also be safer as they can help you prevent falls and learn how to do things safely.
When working out at home, you are more likely to get stuck in a rut. Working out at a gym or community center offers access to more styles of exercise than you would think of at home. There are different classes and equipment, plus instructors teaching classes you might want to learn about. At home, you might find one YouTube channel you like. But, when you go to a physical location, you meet people and open up all new possibilities!
