A few weeks ago, I posted a video of myself doing a cartwheel on Instagram.
And I asked:
“What do you want to keep doing when you’re old?”
My answer?
I want to still be able to do a cartwheel in my 70s and 80s!
Now, I appreciate that a cartwheel probably isn’t on everyone’s bucket list. 😂
But that’s not really the point.
The point is this:
What do you want your body to be capable of as you get older?
Because when we talk about ageing, the conversation often focuses on what we want to avoid.
We talk about osteoporosis, joint pain, stiffness, muscle loss, falls and loss of independence.
But perhaps we should be asking a different question.
What do you want to keep doing?
Maybe it’s playing with your grandchildren.
Going for long walks.
Getting down on the floor and back up again without thinking about it.
Travelling and exploring new places.
Dancing.
Cycling.
Walking your dog.
Carrying your own shopping.
Or perhaps, like me, gardening.
My new allotment has got me thinking…
I’ve recently taken on an allotment and I’m very excited about growing my own food.
But I’ve also realised something…
Gardening is physical!
There is digging, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, reaching, kneeling, squatting and walking.
And then there’s the stamina required to keep going when you’ve told yourself you’ll “just do another 20 minutes” and suddenly realise you’ve been there for three hours! 😂
It’s a wonderful reminder that the things we enjoy doing require our bodies to be able to move, work and recover.
And if I want to be out there digging my allotment when I’m 70 or 80, I can’t wait until I’m 70 to start preparing for it.
We have to build the foundations now.
This is something I’ve been talking about throughout my Building Your Foundations series.
Because the foundations of healthy ageing aren’t just about what happens when we get older.
They’re about what we’re doing now to support the body we want to have later.
Strength matters
If I want to be able to lift bags of compost, carry a watering can or push a wheelbarrow when I’m older, I need to maintain my strength.
Muscle doesn’t just help us look strong.
It helps us live independently.
Strength allows us to carry, lift, push, pull, climb, get up and down and respond to the physical demands of everyday life.
And importantly, strength is something we can continue to develop throughout life.
Mobility matters
It’s no good having strong muscles if your body doesn’t move well.
Gardening requires plenty of movement through the hips, knees, ankles, spine and shoulders.
And everyday life does too.
Being able to comfortably reach overhead, rotate your body, squat down or get up from the floor can make a huge difference to how freely you move through life.
Mobility gives us options.
Balance matters
Balance is another foundation we often don’t think about until we lose it.
But think about gardening.
Walking over uneven ground.
Stepping around plants and tools.
Standing on one leg while reaching.
Moving from kneeling to standing.
Carrying something while walking.
All of these require your body to constantly adjust and respond.
Good balance isn’t just about standing on one leg for a few seconds.
It’s about having the confidence and physical ability to navigate the world around you.
Stamina matters too
Because sometimes it’s not about whether you can do something.
It’s whether you can keep doing it.
You might have the strength to dig a bed, but do you have the stamina to spend a couple of hours working in the garden?
Can you walk for a few miles without feeling completely exhausted?
Can you spend a day exploring a new city while you’re on holiday?
Our cardiovascular fitness and energy production are also part of the picture.
And then there’s recovery…
This is where our foundations go deeper.
Because your body doesn’t become stronger simply because you challenge it.
It needs the resources to repair, recover and adapt.
That’s where nutrition, minerals, sleep, digestion and stress management come into the picture.
Which brings us right back to the theme of this series:
Building your foundations isn’t about trying to create a perfect body.
It’s about giving your body the support it needs to do the things you love.
So perhaps we should stop asking:
“How can I stop getting old?”
And start asking:
“How do I want to live as I get older?”
Because I don’t just want to add years to my life.
I want to add life to my years.
I want to be able to travel.
I want to walk.
I want to garden.
I want to carry my own shopping.
I want to get down on the floor and back up again.
I want to dance.
And yes…
I want to do a cartwheel in my 70s and 80s!
What about you?
What is something you want to still be able to do when you’re older?
That’s worth thinking about.
Because once you know what you want your future to look like, you can start building the foundations for it today.
You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling with pain, stiffness, low energy or a diagnosis before you start looking after your future health.
The things you want to keep doing later in life are worth investing in now.
If you’re ready to understand your body better and build stronger foundations for healthy ageing, take a look at how I can support you.
Explore how I can help you build your foundations here!