Active Ageing Week 4 – 10 October 2021

Move Your Way

Active ageing includes staying physically active, staying mentally active, and staying socially connected and active within your community. Connecting with others, learning new skills, making an ongoing contribution to society, and doing the things that give us a sense of purpose are all important to ageing well.

Kana Nathan

At almost 83 years old, Kana Nathan is more active than most 50 year-olds! He runs a weekly Fit and Fab class at Burnside Council to help seniors improve their health and fitness. “As we mature our body undergoes physical and physiological changes,” he says. “We have to accept that as a reality if we want to actively age.” Losing muscle mass means losing muscle strength. With age we are less flexible and our joints less forgiving. Mobility is challenged, reflexes slow, coordination is poor and our balance is affected. “We can’t stop the ageing process but we can slow it,” Kana says. “We concentrate on resistance training to increase and maintain muscle mass and power and that is also good for bone health.” In Kana’s group the youngest member is mid 70s and the oldest is 94! Kana says there is a focus on balance exercises as better balance means less falls and injuries. “We teach them what to do if they have a fall at home, how to safely roll from their back to their side, to use furniture to help get themselves up, and always call a family member to let them know.” The class always contains some general health and wellbeing tips such as how to walk safely on uneven surfaces by lifting the toes and placing the heel down first. “I also show them how to breathe properly,” Kana says. “Increasing the volume of lung capacity helps the body absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.” In addition there are brain exercises, meditation and mindfulness. “The class is not just about exercise, it is health education as well,” Kana says. “Did you know that 50 per cent of the body’s bones, muscles, nervous system and blood supply is in the lower limbs?”