Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Keep clients interested in activity
Activity maintains cognitive skills as well as physical function. Can teachers aid cognition while leading an exercise class? Yes they can, say 2 veteran instructors who shared the techniques they use to keep older adults mentally engaged during physical activity.
moreMotivation
Brain Aerobics class stimulates the mind by Kathy Laurenhue
Everyone I meet professionally-and nearly everyone I meet socially-is worried about the state of his or her brain. Virtually everyone over 50 seems to make self-deprecating jokes about "senior moment" memory lapses. ("I don't have All-zheimer's yet, but I have Half-zheimer's!")
moreCognitive health
Buyer's guide to yoga equipment compiled by ICMM
The basic piece of equipment used in yoga is the mat. Other props, many of which are credited to the Iyengar style of yoga, help practitioners adjust to the correct position. Equipment is available at retail outlets and from commercial suppliers in small or large quantities. Because yoga props are lightweight, shipping costs can be controlled.
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Yoga basics for older adults by Leigh Crews
Yoga is a centuries-old system for living handed down to us as an interwoven tapestry of physical and spiritual elements. In the west, we typically think of the physical aspects when we say we "do yoga." Yet, yoga's mental aspects are woven throughout the physical movements. Yogic movement and poses (asanas), combined with yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) and guided relaxation or meditation (dhyana), form the basic fabric of yoga practice.
moreMindful exercise
Buyer's guide to medicine balls
The term "medicine ball" conjures images of musty gyms in black-and-white movies. But, today's updated weighted balls toss away that picture. Medicine balls are being used in rehabilitation as well as athletic training because they are versatile, portable and inexpensive. Tossing a ball helps coordination and timing, skills needed for daily living as well as athletic performance. The toss requires core strength and power, also needed to pick up a heavy suitcase. And today you have a lot of choices in modern construction.
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Safely Challenge Physical Abilities By Dan McClure, MA
Have you ever made a teaching mistake like I did years ago? One Saturday morning I was teaching a "boot camp" class for older adults. I broke the group of D6 into pairs and handed each couple a 4-pound medicine ball. Without any instruction, I said, "Now step 5 feet away from each other and play 2-handed catch."
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