3. Exercise!!!... Say What???


© Judi S. Kaminishi
Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic

My mother was 65 years old when she took up jogging. She became the promulgate jogger, you know the type... they bore you to death describing every little detail of every little run... the type that gets depressed if they don't get their daily dose of pheromones. I'll never forget her first 5k run, she got her name in the newspaper for coming in first for her age bracket. Never mind that she was the only one in her division!

I was 44 years old when she wanted me and my 41 year old brother to run with her in San Francisco's "Bay to Breakers" 7k run. We tried to humor her by telling her that we weren't in good enough shape and wouldn't be able to keep up with her. The truth of the matter is that I had no intention of taking up jogging until maybe I was 65 as well.

The fact is that we all know how vital physical exercise is to one's general well being. It doesn't matter what discipline one chooses... jogging, tai chi, yoga, spinning,pumping iron, etc., there is something for everone. Everywhere one looks we see those who are most dedicated reaping the greatest benefits, they look, feel and act great. My mother is 76 today, 5' tall and all 95 pounds of her still a little dynamo of energy with a sparkle in her eye... still bragging how she can kick the highest in her workout classes.

Okay, so here's a question. Why do people spend so much time exercising their bodies and not their minds? This is a logical question given that most people, as they age, complain about becoming forgetful or slower in putting two and two together. Every magazine will have article after article instructing on the basics of workouts for various body parts, but never have I read one article on workouts for keeping the mind strong and sharp.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that our brains are really the only part of our human anatomy that truly improves with age... or at least has the potential?? I have experienced proof of this phenomena by first hand, and quite to my surprise I might add.

Before I returned to college for a second bachelors at the age of 38, I was very concerned about being able to keep up with things in general. I felt I had been out of practice studying, taking tests, etc., so long that it would require a double effort from me. Getting through the first time was an ordeal by itself.

Go To Page: 1 2 3


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo


Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

2.   Dec 3, 1999 7:07 PM
I just went back to school this semester at 40. I was terrified. The last time I was in school I had undiagnosed learning disabilities. Now, after years of homeschooling gifted/Learning disabled child ...

-- posted by Terrie_Bittner


1.   Nov 24, 1999 10:18 AM
WOW that told them judi

-- posted by milly





Join the latest discussions

For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Judi S. Kaminishi's Aging topic, please visit the Discussions page.