Today’s 80 is Yesterday’s 70

Those of you who’ve been reading my blogs have probably noticed there hasn’t been a new one for awhile. It’s because I’ve been concentrating on a new DVD. My distributor has been after me to do a “best of” Ann Smith for the last couple of years, so I decided this would be a good time since I turned 80 this year.

I’ve been watching all the films, trying to choose the sections that will give viewers an opportunity to follow a complete class type session like I did in “Stretch Exercise with Ann Smith” (also marketed as “Stretching for Seniors.” ) There’s also going to be a shorter, but complete routine that people can follow, plus even shorter sections that might become favorites for specialization.

Writing a script to tie it all together is a little tricky, because there’s a lot of technical information I’d like to get across without boring people with talk. But I have a good film editor who’s good at keeping me on track. We had hoped to have it out by now, but everything takes longer than planned, and I don’t like to push people. Mistakes are made when you rush.

I do have the title though: “Music, Movement & Longevity – the exercise of Ann Smith” – and someplace on the cover it will also say “Classic Exercise for an Ageless Body.” If any of you have suggestions about it, there might still be time to act on them. If not, I’ll save them for my next video. Each time I film one I think it’s the last one. I can’t imagine what more I can say, and show about the exercise system I devised in the fifties and am still teaching with a few additions and deletions, which accounts for the fact that I’e reached 80 in good shape.

But today’s 80 is yesterday’s 70, and I’m still learning more about exercise all the time so I doubt if this will be the last one.

The Right Exercise for the Right Age

The other day I was one of many presenters at the joint conference of the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging in Washington – a group that drew about 4,000 people who work in the field of gerontology.

I’d been a presenter two years ago for their conference in California. My DVD, “Inhale, Exhale, Stretch and Move,” was about to be released, and as I ran it on the screen everyone in the room took off their shoes and followed along. They’d never seen my slow motion, continuous stretching to beautiful, classical music. They all agreed it was wonderful exercise for older people and I was happy to have made an impression.

When the call for presenters was put out for this year’s conference I noticed that “controversy would be welcome.” This is my chance, I thought. For years I’ve been trying to get the exercise scientists to change the sport conditioning exercise they impose on the older population and use more of the classical dance exercise style.

Now that I’m 80, I figured I had nothing to lose. Why not just come out and say, “Please stop having older people sit in chairs and lift weights. I know it’s in right now, but look what it’s doing to them! It’s stressing the lower backs.” And I held up photographs that had been taken in reputable exercise classes, showing men and women sitting on chairs, pulling stretch bands to show that, yes indeed, we can get back lost muscle strength, but clearly showing that the people didn’t have enough inner torso strength to do it without
rolling back on their lower spines to do it.

Older people do not need athletic muscle mass rejuvenation as much as they need flexible strength. They need total body exercise that works through the inner torso (stimulating the viscera in the process) and flows through the joints.

I know that well meaning gerontologists want to help older people maintain enough muscle strength in their arms to be able to carry bags of groceries up stairs and into their homes so they can lead independent lives, but maybe those same gerontologists should go to Iceland and the Scandinavian countries and watch the total body exercise their seniors get from their very popular social dancing sessions. You can be sure they pick up a bag of groceries on the way home and get them into their kitchens quite easily.

So, not only was it an honor to be a presenter at that conference, but what I thought would spark some controversy, didn’t. My point was well received, and I was applauded. I only reached one room full of people, but change takes time.

Stretches for Hip Pain

After some time off for a vacation without computer, telephone etc. (which was wonderfully relaxing, by the way), I came back to discover that people are starting to read my blogs, so I’m eager to get back to writing them.

But before I start firing off some new ones I want to respond to a lady who thanked me for my “WONDERFUL” exercise system because it has helped her with lower back problems. I’m flattered that she took the time to let me know.

This same lady brought up another subject that many people probably also experience – pain in her right hip. She wondered if I could suggest an exercise to alleviate that discomfort. She didn’t give her age, but it’s possible she’s experiencing some of the inconvenience of age related aches and pains.

Coincidentally, my right hip is my vulnerable one. I am right handed, which means I have favored my right leg and hip to lead off, to dig in the garden etc., so it’s probably showing some wear and tear.

Instead of suggesting a specific exercise to help the situation I have three things to suggest that I think are much more effective than specific exercises, which I do when it hits me.

l. Before you do your exercises, and also at various times of the day, stand in front of a mirror with legs slightly spread, and check the horizontal line of your shoulders. It’s very possible that one shoulder will be lower than the other, and if so, raise the lower one so that you have bilateral symmetry (both shoulders horizontally aligned). Try to maintain that bilateral symmetry as you exercise, and check it as often as you can during the day to maintain it.

2. Remembering the statement that “any exercise that stretches AWAY FROM a large area or a PAINFUL area will reduce the size or pain of that area” (i.e. large hips, stomachs and even knees that are starting to wear out), and concentrate on the exercises that do that. You need to carry more of your weight in the upper body, and get it out of the hips and off the knees. You do this by lifting your upper body in an expression of pride, with the chin up.

3. If you need extra help achieving bilateral symmetry, find out if there are any classes in Feldenkrais or the Alexander Technique in your area. Both disciplines are good for helping you establish symmetry if you can’t do it on your own. I’m presuming you will also continue doing my exercises for total body fitness and flexibility.