MASTER THE MOVES
Whether you’re 22 or 62, these back-to-basics exercises will keep you on top form
WORDS HATTIE PARISH ILLUSTRATIONS LIZZY THOMAS
FIT FOR LIFE
Think fitness is just a young woman’s game? Think again. There’s no reason why we can’t stay sprightly and strong throughout our lives, but, more often than not, it comes down to efficiency. In these ever-busy times, bad habits can creep in and our fitness levels take a hit. A recent YouGov survey found that younger people are more likely to exercise, with levels dipping to their lowest in women aged 35-54, typically the most ‘busy’ age group.
But it needn’t be so, says Caroline Bragg, master trainer at gym chain Frame. Keeping yourself in fine fettle can be as easy as mastering a few simple moves. You can do them at any age, and they’re always effective. Here are Bragg’s six moves for life.
1 DEADLIFT
WHY? ‘A proper deadlift activates a lot of the posterior chain – which includes your hamstrings, glutes and upper back. It’s important to keep these strong, especially if you have a job where you’re sitting down a lot, you’re picking up children, or you enjoy gardening into your 60s. Start off perfecting your form, then progress to using a weight. Begin with resistance bands, then work up to barbells – you’ll build bone density, too. As we get older, this decreases, so it’s important to include some weightbearing resistance work.’