Enjoying Life in Their Nineties

People are living longer and healthier lives nowadays. One of the reasons for this increase in longevity is that people are exercising more. Here are two inspirational videos of women in their nineties who are breaking the stereotypes of aging. In this first video, Mathilda Klein, age 94, does a solo ball room dance performance:

You can read more about Mathilda Klein here. 
In this second video, May Morabito, also 94 years old, performs a cha-cha dance - complete with splits! She also designs ballroom dresses.


For more information about May Morabito, please click here for a NewsNet5 article.

New Healthy Eating and Exercise Resource

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has published a guide called "Young at Heart: Tips for Older Adults". This guide gives useful information about healthy eating and exercise.  This nutrition information can help you to lower your risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. In addition, exercise may also help to ward off depression. You can access the full report here.

              Young at Heart: Tips for Older Adults

You can find even more in-depth dietary guidelines in "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010", from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The American Heart Association Start! Program

Many studies have shown that exercise is beneficial for older adults. Here are some recent articles about the benefits of exercise:

• The Benefits of Exercising for Older Adults
• Exercise Linked to Healthier Aging
• Seniors Benefit from Strength Training

The American Heart Association (AMA) has created a new website called Start! to encourage people to start walking regularly for exercise. The AMA recommends that you work with your doctor to develop your exercise program, if you're a male over 40 or a female over 50. 
This website has lots of tools to help you to develop a walking plan and a healthy lifestyle: 

• many exercise videos 
• an online tracker to record walking routes and distances traveled.
• an online social network to help you stay motivated
• a heart-healthy Grocery List program
• a Face the Fats nutrition calculator

Tai Chi Program at New River Library March 28th at 10:30am

Tai Chi is a gentle form of exercise that originated in China. It is composed of slow stretches and movements that blend together. According to the Mayo Clinic, this form of exercise has the following benefits:

• it improves muscle tone
• it improves flexibility
• it increases energy
• it reduces stress

More information about Tai Chi from the Mayo Clinic can be found here. New River Library will be hosting an introductory class on Tai Chi on March 28that 10:30am.

[The Pasco Library System strongly recommends consulting a physician before beginning any exercise program.]

New River Library
34043 S. R. 54
Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813)788-6375

Federal Physical Activity Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has recently published Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. They have included a chapter for active older adults aged 65 and older. The guidelines discuss the benefits of exercise and describe the types and amounts of physical activity appropriate for older adults. There is also a chapter with information about exercising for people with chronic health conditions (such as osteoarthritis) and a chapter about exercising safely.