Fitness
The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool
DES MOINES, Iowa | Paul Grinvalds has completed 114 marathons in all 50 states, but he still wilts when he races in temperatures beyond 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 Celsius). It’s the same for most runners, as the body can’t cool down during exertion, and heat makes that even harder. “One thing about marathoners is typically […]
Biking to work: Tips to get started, stay safe and look presentable when you arrive
NEW YORK | When 72-year-old Michael Roper rides his bicycle to and from the pub he owns in Chicago, he can’t imagine a better way to commute. He’s getting exercise, drifting through fresh air and catching glimpses of neighborhood life — a recently opened coffee shop or a diving owl at night —that he’s convinced […]
Tai chi practitioners seek balance and well-being in fast-paced Beijing
BEIJING | One arm raised and the other lowered, hundreds of people move every morning like birds spreading their wings at the heart of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. It’s a movement in tai chi, a physical and philosophical practice developed more than 300 years ago that continues to resonate in China today. “The environment is […]
What injured athletes can teach us about recovery and resilience
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. | Serious injuries and medical conditions disrupt people’s daily routines and can impact their confidence and sense of identity. Elite athletes know the challenges from an injury that sidelines them from their sport, requires physical rehabilitation and leaves their ability to return to competition in doubt. The process that top athletes go through […]
EPA promised a Make America Healthy Again agenda. It has yet to materialize, frustrating activists
WASHINGTON | Last December, after Make America Healthy Again activists drew up a petition to get him fired, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin pledged to release a formal agenda of MAHA priorities that his agency would pursue, including protections against harmful chemicals and other health concerns. But eight months after its first mention and […]
Playing hip-hop or Doris Day, older exercise instructors can speak their peers’ language
SEATTLE | Bengie Santos was a dancer and choreographer for 30 years before reaching an age when most artists hang up their dancing shoes and take a seat in the audience. But she wasn’t ready to sit back and enjoy the show. So Santos began her third act as an exercise instructor. Now 72 and […]
A mop, a broom and a calmer mind. Why some find mental health benefits in everyday tasks
NEW YORK | Amid spring cleaning season, it can be easy to dismiss housework as drudgery, so dreaded or anxiety-inducing that it’s best delegated to others if at all possible. But experts from Zen monks to psychologists say there are mental health benefits to be found in such manual chores as sweeping, mopping and clearing […]
You should be dancing, yeah. Moving to music offers all kinds of benefits as you age
TUCSON, Ariz. | Carol Ross can’t stop smiling at dance practice as she shouts out the steps of a routine to members of her tap and jazz troupe for women age 50 and older. “I’ve been dancing my whole life, it’s the best,” said Ross, who founded the Rodeo City Wreckettes group 23 years ago […]
Mobility exercises are an important part of fitness as we age. Here are some tips
As they age, it’s not uncommon for many people to let out a muted groan when getting out of bed in the morning. But if you “oof” every time you get in a car or “aargh” while bending over to pick up something, it may be time to prioritize exercises that target your mobility. Dr. […]