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Any Activity at Any Age

SierraSil - Any Activity at Any Age
There are no limits. The only limit is your mind. You’re only as old as you feel. Yes, these are all a bit cliché but – they’re also very true. You likely know someone who defies their age – looking, living, and thriving well-below their years. You can also experience this fountain of youth and energy. There are no magic pills, foods, or solutions that can give you the feeling of energy, wellness, and health – it comes with good habits, consistency, an open mind, and a sense of adventure. Yes, you do need a bit of luck on your side with healthy joints, the ability to follow the unbeaten path, and overall wellness. But, really there are no limits on what you can do. Hiking the Pacific Coast Trail, picking up a new sport at the age of 60, learning to scuba dive or sail during your retirement years, packing up your belongings in a storage trailer and setting out for a round-the-world adventure – there’s no reason why you can’t do this and more. Consider these thoughts on aging and activity from a recent article on Bloomberg news, “The age of some of the best in the world in their sport has gone up over time, like the Roger Federers of the world, in a number of endurance sports,” says Robert Litchfield, a Canadian orthopedic surgeon how has operated on around 30 Olympic-level skiers. “It’s not a given anymore that you’d become weaker and slower with aging,” he says. “You can maintain a lot of physical tools if you take good care of yourself – and the advantage (is) with age comes wisdom.” So what does this mean for you? Well, we want to support you in your goals and activities by giving you some tips and advice on how to embrace challenges head-on – regardless of your age. Yes, we do want you to remember any underlying health conditions such as arthritis or other mobility issues, but remember these don’t need to stop you, they just might change the way you achieve your goal or enjoy your hobbies. Building Your Fitness Base Any activity you choose to take on such as tennis, kayaking, gardening, swimming, hiking, or long-term travel requires a base level of fitness. Not only will you enjoy your tennis games or day out on the water in your kayak more, but you’ll also protect yourself from injury risk. Whether you’re getting ready for the 2019 United States Senior Games or 2018 Canadian Senior Games or want to prepare for months long vacation in Europe, you need to be fit. Adding these activities into your weekly routine will help slow down aging and get you ready for that next big challenge:
  • Endurance exercise. Get out for a walk, run, bicycle ride, cross-country ski, snowshoe or any other type of endurance activity. Choose a pace that feels natural and comfortable, allowing you to talk easily with your work-out partner. You don’t need to be huffing and puffing to reap the rewards of endurance activity. In fact, slow and steady wins this race – think turtle not rabbit.
  • Strength training. We all lose muscle as we age – it’s a fact. But, with regular strength training, such as power yoga, a weight routine, TRX workout, or body weight exercises you can stop this muscle loss and even build muscle in the process. Don’t rush out and join a hard-core gym – instead talk to your friends at the tennis club or golf course and find out what they’re doing to build strength. As an extra bonus, you’ll be providing your joints with the much-needed muscular support they need to stay flexible and mobile.
The number one rule to remember when adding in any new exercise, sport, or other activity is take it slow and steady. Don’t sign up for 10 kilometer run if you haven’t run farther than 100 meters in the last year. Don’t start power lifting if you’ve never done a bicep curl. Remember with age comes wisdom – think hard about your goals and your abilities. Listen to your body and think long-term. Real Inspiration from Real People We live in a society that likes to place age limits on what we can and can’t do. How often have you heard your friends say “I could never do that. I’m so old” or “I don’t think I can, I’m so old.” Well, you can break-free from this negative mindset and do what you want, regardless of your age. Look at what these real people are doing right now:
  • Sister Madonna Buder. Now 87 years old, this Sister Madonna began running at the age of 48 and now she is the oldest person to finish an Ironman Triathlon under the 17-hour time limit. Because of her participation in Ironman events, organizers have been forced to add new age categories – 75 to 79 and 80 to 84.
  • Paul Tetrick. A passionate cyclist, this 86-year-old grandfather is still able to ride with his granddaughter, professional cyclist Alison Tetrick. Paul Tetrick has won more than 12 USA Cycling Time Trial Championships, in this solo bike race against the clock.
  • Cheryl Bernard. This 50-year old Olympian competed in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a member of the Canadian curling team. She chalks up her ability to remain competitive with much younger athletes to her consistency and healthy lifestyle.
  • Noriaki Kasai. This 45-year old Japanese ski jumper turns heads on the ski jumping circuit. Kasai competed in his eighth Olympic games at Pyeongchang, which is remarkable considering most athletes retire from ski jumping in their 20’s.
So, what is that you want to do? Is there a sport or activity you have always wanted to try? Do you have a dream trip you’d like to take? Or perhaps you’ve never really been active and are ready to make a change? Whatever it is – you can do it. Any activity at any age – it really is within your reach. Be smart, patient, consistent, listen to your body, take care of your joints, and eat well – it’s amazing how your body will pay you back.

Staying Healthy While Travelling

Staying Healthy While Travelling
By: Dr. Melissa Carr If there’s one passion I share with Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s travelling. Packing my bags and venturing into the unknown is always exciting. Whether I’m heading out on a long overseas trip or a quick weekend getaway, nothing gives me a bigger rush than exploring somewhere new. Sure, travelling is amazing, but it can also be detrimental to your health. If you are one of the lucky few who can jet-set across the globe and never get sick or hurt, count your blessings. For the rest of us, staying healthy during our travels can be challenging. Here are 5 tips to help keep you healthy while on the road. Drink Plenty of Water Staying well hydrated while you’re travelling (and on the plane) is very important. It not only helps keep your body functioning at its peak, but also prevents you from becoming dehydrated from all that sunbaking, exploring, and wine tasting. To ensure you’re never without, carry a reusable bottle with you while you’re on-the-go. Get Enough Sleep Travelling can wreak havoc on your body’s internal clock. Red-eye flights, different time zones, and unfamiliar hotel beds, not to mention trying to pack in as much sightseeing as possible can make it tough to squeeze in some downtime. But you should. Quality sleep helps your body repair and recharge, keeping you healthy and ready for your next adventure. Keep Snacks Handy A great habit I picked up from my mom is that I always keep a stash of healthy snacks on hand when I’m out-and-about. Besides the obvious reason of avoiding going hungry, having some yummy snacks handy will help you cut back on stuffing your face with junk food, as well as saving you a ton of money. Bring your own goodies from home or stock up on some great snacks when you arrive at your destination. Either way, your body and your wallet will thank you. Walk Everywhere Just because you’re on a break doesn’t mean your body has to be. Vacationing is the perfect excuse to lace up a pair of comfy shoes and hit the streets. After all, there’s no better way to explore a new city than by walking. You’ll burn calories, and you won’t have to waste time and money stuck in a cab or waiting around for a bus to arrive either. Be Prepared to Manage Muscle and Joint Pain Travelling is a great chance to experience, explore, and expand your horizons. The last thing anyone wants is for muscle or joint pain to slow them down—just ask my husband. He is a fairly active guy who enjoys working out at the gym and cycling on his overpriced bike. But, like many active people, he’s also sustained numerous injuries that occasionally crop up, especially when we travel. A cramped plane ride, heavy luggage (neither of us can pack light), different bed, change in pillow, or even a stumble when we’re too busy looking at the sights and not paying attention to where we’re walking—all of these can result in pain. So, one of the things I make sure to pack is a bottle of SierraSil’s Pain Relief topical spray. Without it, both of us would be miserable—him in pain, and me listening to him being in pain. A couple of sprays of that and we can continue on our way! With these healthy travel tips, I hope you can enjoy your next journey. Happy trails! Dr. Melissa Carr is a registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with 15 years of clinical practice and a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. In addition to using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, supplements, biopuncture, and nutrition to treat pain, digestive issues, stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and more, Dr.Carr is also a natural health and nutrition consultant, lecturer, and writer. www.activetcm.com.