My body is my treasure, my best friend, and my first instrument. Muscles, tendons and even memory, tend to wear thin. Arthritis and osteoporosis show their ugly faces and at 91, I have both. But there are formulas for winning over these infirmities. I refuse to give in to these painful infirmities. Perhaps there is no cure, but there are ways to manage and live with them. My formula is movement. Arthritis responds and so does osteoporosis, to both movement and weights.
Yoga is the perfect solution and the most pleasing and inspiring solution. Practicing yoga, you gain elasticity, strength, balance and with all that, you also develop peace and joy. I will not allow my body or mind to deteriorate. So be creative and accept the challenge! Without quality in life, there is no pleasure. I love this life and I will be an active part of it, but only if I face the challenge and move, run, walk, jump rope, practice yoga, play tennis, dance, and activate the brain.
Arthritis and osteoporosis are not the end and possibly, just the beginning, if we try these alternatives. I know what you're thinking! I can't do jump rope, it's a killer to my knees, ankles, etc. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Jump rope is just the opposite! Jump rope heals the whole body. It stimulates the heart. It heals arthritic knees, rotator cuffs, ruptured biceps and practically everything else in the body. The swinging of the arms touches the shoulders, wrists, biceps, and is a great stimulus to the feet and ankles. Don't knock jump rope until you've tried it.
Dancing takes care of emotion, joy, balance and oils the body. Any kind of ballroom dancing; foxtrot, waltz, hip-hop, salsa, swing, cha-cha. Take yourself to a Milonga, where they teach and you can practice with a partner. You might even meet and make friends and have a fun evening.
I have been jumping rope for two years. Dancing tango and practicing yoga for six years.
I have arthritis in my knees, deteriorated disc in my back and a ruptured bicep and I'm in better shape now, than I was six years ago. It's all about moving and liking who you are and loving what you do! Challenge yourself and feel the difference.
When you wake up tomorrow morning, you say, "I love this day! I'm on my way! I won't delay!" You have accepted the challenge and you're off to yoga class. Now you have just said no to arthritis and osteoporosis and yes to life! If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm on a fantastic journey and I'm far from ending it. You can have the same.
So join me on this journey! Let's jump rope together. Dance together and beat this nonentity. It is not worth the pain and aggravation. Because there is a solution, an alternative. One that will bring you joy, health, and a life of quality. There is no other way. This is a wrap.
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