Gran-tastic!
Last updated 17:28, Monday, 19 May 2008
How Pilates is helping a 70-year-old gran of six to live life to the full
I FIRMLY believe that age is just a number. My father is 63 and he covers more miles in a year on his bike than an average motorist – 12, 000 to be precise.
He cycles at a competitive level of someone half his age. My mother, who has just turned 60, is a Pilate devotee. She takes part in three classes a week and her daily walk around the lanes involves lots of arm swinging.
So you can understand why I am unwilling to subscribe to the limits of ageing. I can barely keep up with them both. My sister Gilly is a staff nurse who works on Oncology and she shares my belief that those fortunate enough to reach milestones should be grateful, and to that end, invest in their health. This leads me on to our subject – my special star.
Twelve years ago I met Carole Walker when she was approaching such a milestone. This vivacious and amazing woman didn’t quite match up to the number. The same amazing woman, or Superwoman to those who know her has now just passed her next milestone and she is looking fantastic.
She has, albeit naturally blessed, an attitude of mind and determined effort that has got her to where she is today.
Her son Keith says: “Our mum has always been the epitome of a healthy lifestyle. From the running of ‘keep fit’” classes and teaching swimming as part of her physiotherapy job at HK Campbell School through to her current daily swims and Pilates classes.
“At 70, she is Grandy to six grandchildren ranging from three to 19 who are exhausted just trying to keep up with her”.
Regular exercise has always been a big part of Carole’s life and, in return, it has allowed her to live life to the full.
At no time are the benefits of caring for the body more apparent than in later life. Eastern exercise systems, such as yoga and t’ai chi are practised by older people.
They prolong mobility and flexibility into old age and claim to maximise longevity. The West, by contrast, largely ignores exercise for older people, who are assumed incapable of physical improvement.
Pilates-based exercises are the exception. Realising you had back pain only when it has gone away is not uncommon. Becoming aware of our bodies and how they function allows us to find hidden quirks and peculiarities. Poor circulation is boosted, the movements gently massage away stress and because it is non-impact and calming, Pilates is the ideal exercise system for the second half of life.
Transforming the image of ageing, there is now a generation of people accustomed to a high level of physical activity.
For those who gave up exercise decades ago there are obstacles to overcome. Many need to be convinced that there is value to starting again. They worry about imposing physical stresses on an unfit and tired body and are concerned about the real value of making all that effort.
I look at it another way. Not making that effort will be short sighted in the long term. Neglecting to use your muscles is the biggest obstacle to mobility that older people face.
Small changes make a huge difference. Through work on posture, core stability is restored and so begins the re-establishment of the body’s natural range of movement.
Being asked to perform basic movements – movements the body is designed to do – can initially feel quite challenging and not just physically. More often it is the mind telling the body what to do that surprises you.
Suddenly being ‘in tune’ with your body is fantastically empowering.What is there not to achieve?
The Pilates movement works from top to toe; ignoring nothing. Everyone has to start somewhere at any age. I believe that we are all like sponges. Some of us absorb information quickly while for others it takes a little longer until suddenly, it will click.
If results happened overnight then where would our goals be? A challenge is good for you. It puts you in charge and you have nothing to lose.
“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.” These wise words were spoken by Abraham Lincoln and they're still important, today.
- Carol Westmorland, who is also a national cycling champion, holds pilates classes throughout the week. Further information from www.pilates-cumbria.co.uk
