Healthspan: Kristin’s Take on Maintaining Health
Following the recent induction into my high school athletic Hall of Fame, I have been reminiscing on what I “used to” be able to do. I had played volleyball, basketball, and ran track in high school and played volleyball in college and beyond. I “used to” be able to do a whole lot! The mere thought of what my days “used to” look like from an activity standpoint has me snoozing on the couch by 9 pm decades later. I am still quite active, but I have had to modify many things to minimize injury (which would set me back weeks, if not months), while still keeping my muscles, bones, and heart strong and resilient; my balance agile; and my brain engaged. Sounds exhausting, right? With a personal goal of aging as well as I possibly can, I know that continuing to move with purpose has a lot to do with what my future self will be able to do and accomplish.
When most of us think about aging well, we picture our future selves still doing what matters most to us: traveling, being present for those we care about, getting outside, and staying actively involved in things that get us out of bed each morning. Whether you are “young” and building lifelong foundations or “young at heart” and refining and modifying what you already do, take time to consider the quality of your healthspan—the number of healthy, active years you can participate in life on your own terms reasonably free from disabling disease, pain, and serious limitations. We often hear people say they want to live to be 100, but what if those last 20-30 years are riddled with chronic disease, weakness, instability, and pain that doesn’t allow your life to feel like…well…your life.
It’s tempting to think that how you age is mostly written in your genes. Family history certainly contributes, but it’s not the whole story. There is plenty of room for factors you can influence: what you choose to eat and drink, how much you move throughout the day, how well you sleep, how stressed or socially connected you are, and the quality of medical care you receive. So, who wouldn’t want the opportunity for a stronger body, sharper mind, and a fuller life? At Health In Balance, we focus on maximizing your healthspan by encouraging you to move your body regularly. With the expert personalized guidance of our physical therapists and personal trainer, we will support you on your healthspan journey with flexibility and strength training to optimize the function of bones and muscles, balance work to prevent falls and maintain stability, and even cognitive engagement to boost your mood and sense of connection in our super fun community of wellness seekers!
Even if you feel like you did not hit the genetic lottery or you already have many health issues to deal with, Health In Balance is an amazing setting to keep you on track to moving better and extending your healthspan. Instead of viewing aging as an inevitable and unstoppable decline, it is far more accurate to view the passage of time as a dynamic process that you can influence every day. You can choose many of the inputs that determine how your body and brain function in the years ahead. Small, consistent steps may not look dramatic in the moment. Over time, these little habits contribute to not only how long you live, but how well you live. Hall of Fame aside, let’s celebrate what we can and will do, instead of just what we “used to.”
