By Jason Greenspan
Most people know that you lose muscle tissue as you age if you’re not on a regular progressive strength training program. But what happens to our brains if we don’t use them?
If you don’t use your brain (sounds funny) you’re more prone to losing it. Of course the #1 factor is genetics.
But why play with fire? We aren’t in control of our genes, so why not do everything that we do have control over? And starting a regular exercise program is something we can control.
Exercise not only helps maintain and increase muscle tissue, but can also help with overall brain function.
Cardiovascular exercise has been shown to increase circulation and believe it or not, help to produce new brain cells. In the past scientists believed brain cells were complete at birth and not capable of growing new cells. More recent research shows that the human brain does have the ability to produce new cells through a process called neurogenesis. This is a great news, especially for people that are on a regular cardio and strength program.
According to studies, people who don’t exercise are twice as likely to suffer memory loss and Alzheimer’s Disease.
There are certain exercises that are more efficient than others in terms of challenging the brain than others.
Although machine training is fine for a certain amount of people and for a certain amount of time, it’s not the greatest for challenging the brain. Machines do some of the work for you, as you move to the set groove of the machine. You can literally have a conversation with someone or on certain machines, read a book. This is not ideal for increasing brain function. Strength exercises that require you to think are the most efficient for increasing brain power. Movements like tossing a medicine ball or exercises that combine more than one movement such as combining a squat pattern with a row or balancing on one leg as you do a standing chest press. Take it a step further and count backwards from 20 while doing the exercises is another way to challenge the brain.
At Silver Stars, we have our clients use the agility ladder not only for cardio endurance, dynamic balance, gait, coordination etc… but also for increasing brain function. There are so many different movement patterns that you can incorporate that make you think. If you don’t focus you won’t remember the particular movement. We also have clients perform a movement drill using the ladder and give them a another task while moving through the ladder. This really makes them think.
Silver Stars is the premiere private fitness studio that caters and specializes in working with the baby boomer and beyond fitness enthusiast.
Our fitness programming is based upon the latest research that is intended to achieve your specific goal. The studio is extremely goal oriented as we track your progress and act more like a coach and teacher as opposed to just a trainer.
Some of our services are personal training, yoga, Tai Chi, stretchign sessions, massage therapy and Thai massage. We also offer small group classes such as balance and fall prevention , 30 minute circuit classes and yoga.
Class schedule is as follows:
Monday: 30 minute circuit 6:30pm
Monday: Balance & Fall Prevention @1230
Tuesday: Yoga @1030am
Tuesday: 30 Minute Circuit @12pm
Wednesday: 30 Minute Circuit training 1030am
Thursday: 30 Minute Circuit Training 10:00am
Friday: 30 Minute Circuit training 12:30
Sunday: Yoga @12pm
Silver Stars Fitness main location
850 7th Avenue (West 54/55 st)
PH: 646-573-9724
EMAIL: info@silverstarsfit.com
WEB: silverstarsfit.com
DON’T FORGET OUR OPEN HOUSE THIS AND EVERY WEDNESDAY. THIS WEDNESDAY GET 20% OFF JUST FOR SHOWING UP. RSVP REQUIRED. HOURS OF THE OPEN HOUSE ARE FROM 10-6:30.
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Jason Greenspan is the fitness director of Silver Stars Fitness. He has 25 years experience working with men and women over the age of 50. Jason is certified by the American Council On Exercise and The National Academy of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer, older adult fitness specialist and a orthopedic exercise specialist, which helps clients to prevent an injury or help an existing injury through proper exercise. Jason is also a published author of the award- winning book Fitness For Real Life and The Amazing Water Bottle Workout. He has been featured in Men’s Fitness, Epoch Times, Ny Post and The Washington Post and has appeared on NY1 and CBS with Dr. Max Gomez.
