Get stronger, live longer

Join the Resistance Movement! Once considered the exclusive domain of steroid-dependent "Gym Junkies," the use of weights and strength exercises is now seen as a powerful way to resist the effects of aging and injury. The Resistance Movement is a strength and resistance-based program for those in their 60s and older, developed by Senior Trainer Steve Denenberg and supported and promoted by Coastal Bodies. It provides a wide range of significant benefits for older people through a supervised program of strength and resistance training.

An amazing study of more than 80,000 people, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, compared the mortality outcomes of different types of exercise. It found that people who did strength-based exercise had a 23% reduction in the risk of premature death by any means and a 31% reduction in cancer-related death. Lead author Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis said, "The study shows exercise that promotes muscular strength may be just as important for health as aerobic activities like jogging or cycling."

As in all conflicts, resistance is a legitimate and effective way to reduce and defeat the worst impact of aggression. It is the same with combatting the impact and effects of aging. "Regular exercise to strengthen muscles (resistance training) can partially overcome or significantly delay the loss of muscle mass and strength. In muscle-strengthening exercise, muscles contract against resistance provided by gravity (as in push-ups), weights, or rubber bands. If this type of exercise is done regularly, even people who have never exercised can increase muscle mass and strength." These benefits are achieved as the strength exercises create small tears in the muscles. As the body repairs itself, the muscles grow, increasing their strength, endurance, and size. Consequently, "building muscle tissue creates and collates body-beneficial chemicals, hormones, insulin, proteins, and nutrients that keep you in optimal health."

In order to ensure that each program is specifically aimed at the needs of the client, The Resistance Movement at Coastal Bodies includes a thorough assessment. There are many benefits arising from fitness assessments, including:

• Identifying the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, as well as other health conditions that may be adversely affected by exercise.
• Identifying the current level of physical fitness.
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• Establishing a baseline and future benchmark before starting an exercise program.
• Providing key information that can be used to develop realistic goals and design an exercise program that will help meet personal needs and achieve agreed goals.

In addition, repeating assessments at regular intervals ensures that it is possible to:

• Track progress.
• Maintain motivation and adherence to the exercise program.
• Determine whether the training technique or program is meeting the person's needs and helping achieve their goals.
• Modify the exercise program to ensure safe participation and maximize health benefits and the achievement of agreed goals.

BUT WAIT—THERE'S MORE! No steak knives (yet) but an alphabet of key things to consider about yourself and how The Resistance Movement at Coastal Bodies can positively influence your life:

• Activity – it's a "use it or lose it" scenario – which will you pick?
• Build muscle – reduce the danger of losing your valuable muscle, crucial to preventing falls as you age.
• Cognitive function – improve your short and long-term memory.
• Diet – reduce your appetite through strength training – it's more effective than cardio!
• Endorphins – you'll be smiling from ear-to-ear from the endorphins released through strength training (as much as running).
• Forget forgetting – you'll be sharp as a tack! Enhanced physical performance has results "upstairs."
• Girth – not the major goal, but your weight and size will benefit from its reduction.
• Heart rate – will be reduced to a beneficial level.
• Insulin resistance – improve your body's ability to utilize insulin through weight training. This can help manage pre-diabetes and diabetes.
• Joy – is what you'll feel from those happy hormones after following our program. It boosts your self-confidence, improves your body image, and your mood!
• Know yourself – and your limitations and dislikes.
• Lethargy – becomes a thing of the past – you'll be full of energy and won't tire as easily.
• Metabolic improvement – your metabolism will increase as a result of training with weights.
• Neural strength – will also improve with strength training.
• Osteoporosis – weight-bearing exercise will help prevent (or even halt) the "brittle bones" that lead to fractures.
• Posture – prevent the slump that happens all too often as we age by strengthening the muscles that keep you upright.
• Queues – and crowds in big, commercial gyms can be a barrier to your enjoyment. Join a smaller, community-based Studio like ours.
• Reap the benefits that come from this approach to training. You'll have fun and your body will thank you for it!
• Smile (and breathe) – it will help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Tomorrow – doesn't have to be feared – enjoy it, embrace it, live it.
• Undoubtedly – exercising will improve your health, strength, and flexibility.
• Victory – against aging will be yours.
• Weight – resistance training helps keep it off because it increases your resting metabolism, meaning you'll burn more calories throughout the day.
• Xercise – is what it's all about.
• Y – why not try some of our Resistance Movement programs – improve your balance, strengthen your bones, and lose weight all while we make you look and feel better!
• Zzzzzz – last but not least, resistance training helps prevent insomnia and improves your sleep.

—

References:

1. Decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity for healthy aging (ACTION) study; Bacon S, Fortier I, Hamer M, Stamatakis E, DiPietro L, Talbot D, Lefebvre G, Bredin S, Warburton D, Pelaez S, Corner L, Lavoie K, Campbell T, Ninot G, Siervo M; Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Project Grant.
2. Changes in the Body With Aging. By Richard W. Besdine, MD, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
3. "Power to change your life" Stephanie Ayre, Fitness First magazine Jan/Feb 2018.