Age is just a number.

Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. While it can’t stop the aging process, it can increase life expectancy and keep disabling conditions – from heart disease to depression – at bay.

Aerobic capacity, muscle mass, bone density, flexibility and balance are all vital in allowing us to maintain our functional capabilities and independence. As we age, these all decline over time. If our quads aren’t strong enough to enable us to walk upstairs, do we start thinking about moving to a bungalow? Or do we engage in a programme of exercise that will strengthen the leg muscles to help us walk upstairs, improve our balance to stop us from falling, increase our bone density to stop us from breaking a wrist?

Many people shy away from exercise as they get older, convincing themselves that they’re too old. It doesn’t have to be like this. With the right programming, almost anyone can start exercising at any age. I have clients in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s following individual programmes appropriate to their biological age, training age and specific goals.

I also think that society has a big part to play – almost frowning upon people when they don’t conform to social norms. I remember a 65 year-old female client of mine recently getting annoyed when people kept telling her she was ‘fit for her age’. She just wanted to be fit! Why does age have to even come into the conversation?

I’ve been seriously training for less than 10 years and at 45 I’m fitter than I’ve ever been. I see exercise as my life insurance and I have no intention of slowing down.

Nothing is impossible. Mindset is everything. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t and know that your body can withstand almost anything – it’s your mind that you have to convince.

If you need any specific advice or help, or if there’s a subject you’d like to know more about, email or message me and I’ll be more than happy to help.

Best wishes,

Charlotte