Healthy Aging and Longevity: Why You Can Move Better, Feel Stronger, and Live Better at Any Age

Written by Dr. Tayler Ah Nee, Doctor of Physical Therapy

When you think about aging and getting older, there is probably a typical image that comes to mind. You might imagine a walker or a cane. Or maybe you are picturing a retirement home filled with wrinkled faces playing bingo and watching Jeopardy. Whatever you envision, it probably doesn't inspire much energy or enjoyment.

I am here to help change the way people think about getting older. Because I know it is possible to live an active and independent lifestyle into your 80s, 90s and beyond.

Stay active and healthy by aging well.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I have worked with a wide range of ages and fitness levels. I will always remember this one particular patient of mine.

This guy was full of energy and lit up the room every time he came to therapy. He said hello to every single person in the room. Definitely a fan favorite.

He was dealing with some nagging shoulder pain, but he was still trying to work through it at the gym. He would go every single day no matter what, even if his shoulder was bothering him.

Oh yeah, and he was 95 years old.

Still driving just fine. Still independent. Still living a life that he loved.

What was his secret? He stayed active his entire life and never stopped exercising.

Healthy Aging and Longevity

This man is a perfect example of this idea. It brings to light the idea of "lifespan" versus "healthspan". He is an example of how to master healthy aging and longevity.

Your lifespan is the number of years you live. Your chronological age.

Your healthspan is the actual quality of life you are living. How independent you can be. How much enjoyment you can have without being limited by poor mobility, weakness, fatigue, or just a lack of confidence in your ability to navigate the world.

The beautiful thing about this is we have control over our healthspan. But it takes planning and a conscious decision about the life you want to live.

In the most simple terms, this is how you improve your healthspan:

• Consistent exercise and activity. This includes:

  • Cardiovascular exercise

  • Resistance/weight training

  • Balance/Mobility training

• Mindful Nutrition

  • Eating as many foods from the earth as possible. Less processed foods, more ingredient meals

• Good Sleep

• Meaningful Relationships

  • This has actually been proven to be the number 1 correlation of living a meaningful life. The more relationships we have that are loving and meaningful, the more joy we have in our lives.

Change the Way You THINK About Aging

Getting older does not mean you are destined to be stuck in a retirement home. It can look however you want. But in order to have the life you want, you must plan and prepare.

The body will slow down eventually. But you can drastically alter that process by making the right lifestyle choices.

About the Author:

I am on a mission to help people change the way they think about aging and getting older. I help people move better, get stronger, and live a life filled with meaningful activities.

I am a Physical Therapist in Scottsdale, AZ, and I have helped people of all ages stay active and return to doing the things they love.

If you are looking for guidance or support on how to stay independent and mobile for the rest of your life, fill out this contact form and I will reach out to you soon!

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