Healthy Forever Fitness Motivation

 Making the Best of our Later Years "There are no positives to ageing"......this is something I hear so many times? I understand this statement with every year of growing older. I seem unable to do some of the things I could do so easily when I was younger. This is the ageing process and it is the acceptance of this that will help us embrace our age. My mum would often say to me that 'an old woman' looked back at her each time she looked into the mirror. My mother was probably the same age as I am today when she said this to me. Yes, of course, I found this amusing as my mum was an old woman? Yet here I am looking in the mirror and understanding my mothers thoughts ......... that old woman is now looking back at me. As a woman, the signs of ageing show in our faces. The odd wrinkle here and there. The skin on our body is not as smooth and firm as it was a few years ago and sadly we can be overlooked by a younger woman just a few steps behind us. All these signs can f...

  Good Posture, Well-being and Balance I was stopped the other day, whilst walking along the coastal path, by a gentleman (in his late 60's). He felt seemingly awkward when asking me if I did some sort of exercise to keep such a great posture. This was a very flattering comment as my posture is something I have worked on for many years. I was a national swimmer from a very young age and this helped enormously through my adolescence (the slouching years) as I am tall in stature. I was also a runner and gym-goer. Good posture means you align your body correctly with a straight spine and centering your weight directly over your feet. For exercise purposes this aids perfect form enhancing workouts and preventing injury. Good posture is not just for sports people. It is also important for balance which is a 'must' as we age . Posture can be improved with various exercises and activities that you can add into your daily life, from balance training to yoga poses. These balance tec...

Life is Good at Sea Just 3 weeks ago I was disembarking this very ship and now I am here again living this wonderful life, seeing the world and enjoying the luxuries of this beautiful vessel. I will, as always, be visiting some amazing destinations too. My last working cruise  sailed to the Western Mediterranean and Italy and it was magical for me. I escorted some incredible excursions in all of the ports and had so much fun with the passengers. This cruise has a similar itinerary as we are sailing to enjoy the highlights of Italy and the Mediterranean . There are some new ports that I have not visited before so I am really excited and feeling energised for new sights and experiences. Sometimes I am allocated a Passenger cabin with a balcony, depending on whether the ship is full. For this cruise I have an Entertainers cabin at the forward of the ship. I actually love these cabins as they have the most amazing picture window and the view is quite breathtaking. I have a full view o...

The Benefits of a Sea View Sea views and ocean vistas increase our well-being and wellness. The relaxing sounds of the waves with the colour of blue promoting calmness and tranquillity. There is a great deal of research, at present, into the benefits of our proximity to the sea. These studies accentuate the health benefits and healing properties of the rhythm, sounds and scents of an ocean environment. Listening to the sound of the ocean waves can encourage healthier sleep patterns and the sea air can support a better nights sleep. Ocean views can contribute to our mental and emotional well-being, boosting our mood and overall mental health. Looking at an ocean vista promotes relaxation, a feeling of calm and enhances our creativity whilst reducing our stress and anxiety levels. Although the ocean encourages relaxation and calm for the mind, our body can feel more energised. We may feel like taking a long walk along the coast or spending some time swimming, snorkelling or surfing. This...

  Improving your Fitness and Health There are many that believe exercising from a chair is just for those who are not mobile or capable of exercises in a more traditional or energetic way. Whilst this may be true to some extent, chair classes or workouts are for everyone to enjoy. They can be adapted for those who are limited with their mobility or for those that are suffering an injury, but they can also be adjusted to increase your health and fitness levels. Sitting in a chair whilst exercising is gentler on your joints and alleviates pressure on achy and uncomfortable knees, hips and ankles.  Workouts from a chair based exercise routine can increase your flexibility and mobility, enhance your cardio health and endurance as well as build and maintain your strength.  Do not be under the assumption that sitting equals easy. This is not the case. You can burn calories and work up a sweat even from a chair.  I love teaching chair classes and I am learning new methods o...

  Working Cruise - Chair Fit and Yoga I have been really looking forward to this cruise. I feel very prepared with my own YouTube channel , which means that the classes I am teaching onboard will hopefully continue for the passengers once they are home. I have always given handouts to passengers but videos are far more motivational with a higher probability that they will continue to exercise and gain greater results. There are 3 days at sea before we dock in the first port of call, so it is important for me to get the passengers interest on day 1. The cruise company is very supportive and make sure that everything is prepared on the first day. All the chairs are placed in a semi circle and the music and microphone are set up 30 minutes before the class begins. I was delighted to see that all the seats were taken 10 minutes before the start time of the class and some of the passengers were seated on the easy chairs in the outer area of the stage. This is so pleasing as the passenge...