Some people (invariably young people) think senior citizens spend their retirement playing cards, taking slow walks, and, perhaps—for a break from routine—visiting their medical professionals.  But as we age, we realize that media portrayals from years gone by—or even how we used to think of older people when we ourselves were younger—hardly reflect our current realities—especially if we’re athletes.

Take Arthur Puckrin. Born in Great Britain in 1938 (before you start calculating, he’s almost 71), this senior swimmer trains harder than many Olympic athletes. He’s in the pool 7 days a week for hours at time. He competes internationally, with times that rival college-age athletes.

Margaret and John Canby of San Antonio, Texas are very good tennis players. They are also in their 80s. They credit their winning records to healthy eating, getting enough rest, and cross-training. The couple plays doubles and singles tennis, and they regularly beat players who are decades younger. The Tatum brothers, John and Brad, still compete in swimming events at 89 and 87, respectively.

At 94, Lucille Borgen became the oldest competitor ever in the U.S. National Water Skiing Championships, the world's largest water ski tournament. Last, but certainly not least, consider Estelle Frendberg. This 96-year-old from Arizona is the oldest competitor in the National Senior Games. Her event is the 1,500-meter race-walk, and she’s also prominent in the Masters Track and Field rankings.

Senior athletes come in many varieties: they vary by sport, age, and level of competitiveness. But like all other athletes, they love their chosen sport and derive great satisfaction from participation—if not winning.  George Bernard Shaw said, famously, “youth is wasted on the young.”  But older athletes extend the vigor and strength of youth, and combine it with a life-time’s experience and discipline. Shaw also said “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Here’s to all those who keep on playing!

The human brain is incredibly good at recognizing patterns and acting on previously-gathered information that you may or may not consider consciously. But the brain requires exercise to stay sharp and at its peak efficiency, so many who suffer memory loss—or fear they might—are looking for ways to prevent it.

Ironically, computers—devices we humans have built to mimic how our own brains work—are now helping us prevent memory loss. Scientifically and clinically proven, computer software, such as that developed by Posit Science, targets certain abilities of the human brain, and engages and exercises them. This software has been proven to work with many types of mental disabilities that affect the memory, including Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.

The benefits of these programs are not limited only to those with disabilities, however. Even those of us who do not suffer from any particular maladies may have trouble remembering and focusing, from time to time.  This software can help even these more mundane issues.

Our brains are biological computers that are—naturally—as inefficient as they are enormously powerful. But by helping our brains become even a little more efficient at every-day tasks, we can harness more brain-power. Various clinical studies have shown that this type of software can double the speed at which our brains process what we hear. It can also directly improve how our brains process information by increasing activity in the areas that control how we direct our attention. By teaching our brains how to think more efficiently, we can develop more effective ways to process the information we receive. This means brain capacity is freed up for other things—be that more information, or something more pleasurable.

Can software, when used correctly, help prevent memory loss? The answer is, undoubtedly, yes, and we are just beginning to discover exactly how much!

Check the sites below for more information:

·        http://www.positscience.com/

·        http://www.sharpbrains.com/resources/web-sites/

·        http://www.dana.org/resources/seniors/

·        http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/brain_health/

·        http://alz.org/we_can_help_brain_health_maintain_your_brain.asp
 

Yoga, Tai Chi, and Chi Qong are three disciplines centered around breathing, controlled movement, and channeling internal energy. Because of their meditative nature, they are wonderful stress-relieving outlets for people of any age and any fitness level.

Yoga is focused on breath and balance.  Yoga practice aims to promote strength through channeling internal energy, and to send the energy of clean breathing to places in the body that feel tense or stressed. There are hundreds of different types of yoga. Hatha and Iyangar, which focus on stretching and performing movements precisely are probably the best varieties for beginner. Bikram or “hot” yoga features a very warm room and can be more challenging.  In any class, expect to be able to modify things that are too difficult or intense. Any type of Yoga is probably more active than Tai Chi or Chi Qong.

Tai Chi is based on teachings from Chinese martial arts, and literally means “ultimate fist.” But don't let that intimidate you. Like Yoga, Tai Chi has several varieties. Modern, American Tai Chi, as offered by many gyms, senior centers, and community groups, usually focuses on slow, repetitive patterns of movement. Specific health effects are being studied, but many practitioners report that it promotes calm, strengthens joints, and increase overall healthfulness.

Chi Qong (sometimes spelled Chi Gong) is also a Chinese practice of health and mediation. It means "breath energy training" and is based on channeling internal energy and harmonizing the emotions to calm the mind. Of the three, Chi Qong is likely to be the least intense and most meditative. The purpose of Chi Qong is to activate and channel "chi" or energy, and circulate it within the body, removing “bad” chi, and sending “good” (active) chi to parts of the body that are static.

Any of  these three disciplines will get you moving in a gentle way, adaptable to your particular health circumstances and level of fitness, and will allow you to strengthen your body through attentive and deliberate breathing.

Senior citizens have a reputation for being stiff and fragile. If they venture off the porch and out of their rocking chairs, they shouldn’t subject their bodies to sports that would strain their joints or bones. Shuffleboard is good, and maybe a light round of golf . . . always with a cart. Right?

Wrong! Today’s seniors have taken much better care of their bodies, and many are more limber than the television-watching, video-game-playing, and Internet- addicted Generation X-ers.

Whether you’re continuing your fitness regimen or deciding it’s high time to begin, aerobic activities benefit older bodies as much as they do younger bodies: they keep the heart strong and the blood oxygenated. This, in turn, keeps the joints lubricated and the mind sharp, which makes people of all ages feel young.

What are some activities to try?

Bicycling clubs are popping up all over, and they usually are sorted into classes, depending on your fitness level and the types of rides you enjoy.

Speed-walking groups are also popular, and these groups are set up similarly to biking clubs.

Dancing is ever popular with all age groups, and recent TV shows are increased its appeal.  And whether waltz, rhumba, or country dancing, a 25-year-old can have a 65-year-old partner. Style, technique, and social skills—not age—are how dance classes are organized. (Clubs and groups that emphasize a particular type of music or style are a great place to exhibit the showy moves you learned in your youth, as well as to learn new steps.)

Hiking and cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing are also becoming more popular with seniors. But the same precautions apply to an 80-year-old as to an 18-year-old: The “buddy system” is best (so go with a friend), and always let someone at home know your route.