At 57, I have made decisions to ensure physical training is a big part of my life, 40 years and counting.  While it was instinctive for me from very young to be active, it is not for many, and certainly not as we get stop moving regularly.

Here are 5 ways to stay strong, move well and keep energy high in our later years:

1.      Train to move. 

To train is to have a purpose. Movement, and moving well, without pain should be the number 1 purpose in daily self-care.  Athletes do it for a living, the rest of us need to adopt that same practice.

2.      Evolve your training.

Strength training, conditioning (cardio, intervals, metabolic work) are not what they were in high school. The research on all these areas is powerful.  

3.      Train for tomorrow.

Coach Dan John writes about this. The goal of training is not to push yourself to exhaustion but be able to do it again tomorrow.

4.      Training is a daily thing.

Consistency trumps all in how we feel and what we can do. Training can be broken down to 10- 15 minute sessions on mobility or strength or …. Breaking your training down to micro sessions can help get the movement your body craves on daily. Feed it.

5.      Your body adapts but give it time to recover.

Recovery days are big as we get older. A long ride or walk one day may need something massage or mobility focused the next.  That counts! Listen and understand your body (no one else will): that sore back maybe because you are tight in the muscles around hips.