I grew up with my Grandparents living in the house adjoining ours. My Grandpa worked in the city until he retired. Every morning he caught the train at Brighton Beach, got off at Richmond Station and walked the extra 3.5km into Collins Street. At the end of the day he walked the 3.5km to Richmond Station and hopped on the train home.
As a young man, 17 years old, he had lied about his age to get into the army. He was sent to France and fought in the Battle of the Somme WW1 (which he never talked about). He married on his return and had 3 children. Tragically, his only son died in a car accident aged 19. Then he and my Nana came to live with us when my mother (his youngest daughter) was widowed at age 26, with 3 kids under 3 years old. So they all raised us together. My Grandparents should have been relaxing in retirement but instead they were minding toddlers. Every day until my Grandpa died, he’d wake early, and in his striped flannel pjs, perform a simple circuit of body weight exercises; ‘calisthenics’. His routine varied a little but always included the staples, push ups, sit ups, star jumps and squats. This only took about 20 minutes. He then ate a steaming bowl of Corn Flakes doused in boiling water and drank a cup of the blackest tea in a floral china cup. Bacon and eggs were a Sunday treat after church. In retirement he worked in his garden, played cards and captained the local lawn bowls team.
This was his routine and was just life. The daily walks, the burst of vigorous exercise, the gardening, the simple diet, the social connections. This all added up to a healthy and happy existence. Grandpa was strong and able bodied until he died at 84. No hospitals, no nursing home, no heart condition and no dementia.
This simple plan is endorsed in many discussions and scientific research papers on health and longevity. Be physically active throughout the whole day, be social and eat simple fresh food.
A Simple Plan
I would love to make a simple plan for you. A plan that nourishes your body and your mind. Activity that you enjoy. If you hate exercise we won’t do that. We will create something that you can easily build into your day. It might be something social, meditative or purposeful. It could be riding to work taking the longer scenic route, exercising in water at the local pool or beach. Ten minute routines set to your favourite tunes or something short, sharp and heavy to get a sweat up. Or you might have a specific goal like a body weight deadlift or to run a half marathon. Or you may be just sick of joint pain or back pain or want something to use as an excuse to spend time with people you like… There’s so much to work with.
Somehow as our lives became more complicated, as populations got less active and non-communicable diseases overtook all other causes of illness and death, somehow exercise got a reputation of being time consuming, uncomfortable, expensive, repetitive, boring and dreaded by many.
Let me help make exercise and physical activity your favourite thing to do. I will keep it simple. We will create something you look forward to, that won’t cause harm, or pain or make you feel you’re giving something up or adding to an already full schedule or something to avoid. I can help you find your thing, your special activity that you enjoy.
Yes, are lives are more complex than the 1960s. The modern world can sometimes just feel overwhelming. So let’s nourish your mind and body through a simple plan that keeps you happy, healthy and strong.
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