FITNESS AND ACTIVITIES

As we get older, it's a good idea to think about how we're going to keep fit A lot depends on our mobility of course. Joining a local gym can be quite social, especially if, like at the one I attend, there is a weekly Silver Circuit class. People here tend to be over 50 but there are two ladies who are in their 80's which is very commendable. Very often there are discounts for over 50s. Also perhaps, think about yoga or pilates, or join a local tennis, table-tennis, badminton or Bowls Club.

The possibilities are endless. Swimming is something else that is great for our health and if there isn’t a public swimming pool in your area, there might be a Leisure Centre or Health Club. Yoga is also very popular and classes can sometimes be found at a gym but are also advertised locally for other venues.

Tennis is a very sociable sport and can also be quite

competitive, especially when playing in leagues.

However, if you just want it for the social life and you

can play to a reasonable level, most Clubs accommo-

date this. Some towns have their own Tennis Clubs or,

failing that, it can be played at the local Leisure Centre.

Similarly, a host of Gyms are now springing up in most towns

but if not, again the local Leisure or Sports Centre. They have

moved on a lot from years ago and cater to all levels of fitness.

Many have their own classes and also Personal Trainers.

GOLF is immensely popular for many, although I haven't personally tried it. (Crazy Golf at the seaside is about my limit :-)) The cost of equipment alone can be exorbitant though. That is why I would always recommend searching for whatever you need at eBay. This doesn't necessarily mean that you are looking at second-hand stuff. In the search box, you can tick "new" if that's what you want. For example, take a look here to get an idea of what is available :-

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BOULES/PETANQUE

This is a really fun game to play with a minimum of 2 players. It is best played on ground such as shown in the picture here, although we play at home on the lawn.

To start the game, toss a coin to decide which person/team will go first. When selecting teams it is best to make sure there is a mix of players of all ages and abilities. The first player or team decides where everyone must stand each time. The player who has marked the spot then throws the small wooden ball which is called the jack. People tend to develop preferences as to where they like the jack to be, ie if a shorter throw or longer position suits them more.

When a player or team from the losing side have no boules left to be played, the winning player/team then needs to throw their remaining boules and try and place them as close as possible to the jack. If the closest person/team have other boules closer than their opponents' nearest, these are also counted as winning throws. All boules from the one round is called an end. The winner of an end becomes the first player of the next, starting from the finishing position of the jack in the previous end.

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WALKING/RUNNING

Daily exercise is good for all of us, although I appreciate that not all people are able to get out of the house to do this (if not, there are exercises to do whilst sitting on the couch)

A daily walk is a great way to maintain fitness levels but if, as many people do, you fancy taking it to a higher level and progress to running, then take it step by step (no pun intended) and never overdo things. I have seen people aged over 80 who enter and finish the London Marathon, although I am not suggesting you do this.

I, together with my husband, have a daily walk lasting for about 30-45 minutes. I have never progressed to running but like to think that this will still do us good. Often we will just start off walking from home but sometimes will drive out to somewhere different and then walk from there. (If the weather is terrible, we stay in and watch a fitness video on Youtube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE_FeKpc_lk It's a 20 minute video and we really enjoy it)

My daughter-in-law started running a few months ago and now goes for several miles. She always likes to listen to music and there are some great wifi earbuds about so I'm sure you will find something to suit if that takes your fancy (see below).

Here is an NHS site which can guide you through your journey -

Couch to 5K: week by week - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

A fitness tracker can be a useful means to see how far you've travelled, especially if you've set a particular goal to achieve. There are many on the market and I can imagine they would make quite a good gift as well.