Women's Issues Article

"Susie's Secrets to Living a Vibrant Life after 50--Strategies for Feeling and Looking Younger"

Part 1 Getting Physical

by Susie Collins

I am 56 years old and feel more vibrant, more alive and
happier than I have ever felt-physically, emotionally,
mentally than I've ever felt before. I am creating my life
the way I want it to be and in the process am feeling more
positive and more enthusiastic than I ever thought would be
possible. That's a big statement I know. It's been my
passion to find natural ways to feel good and that's what I
want to share with you. 

In this series of articles, I'm going to share my "secrets" 
that I've discovered over the past 30 years. This is not
meant to be your prescription for a great life but rather to
spark your creativity to open to the wisdom inside you. 

What's vibrance? Feeling of vital body-energy combined with
a clear mind, emotional harmony, and open heart. Can lose
your vibrance and you're old at 22. Feel your vibrance and
you're young at 92. You've all seen older people who are
much more alive and happy than people in their 20's.

What happens to some people that allows them to stay vibrant
throughout life and others to lose it at an early age?

My mother, who's in an Alzheimer's facility, is 84 and she's
very active-walks ½ mile everyday, swims a ½ mile every
other week, and just wants to have fun. The center didn't
have an exercise room and she got one together for the
residents. 

She's found a new love who is a day patient at
her center-she graduated from high school with him and after
not seeing each other for 62 years, they've reconnected
within the last year. Even though she has Alzheimer's, she
would say that she lives a good life.

I am a baby boomer and we are a generation that just
doesn't want to age. A lot of us are doing everything we 
can to stay young from face lifts to tummy tucks. There are 
pills for any sort of ailment we might have and they're even 
working on a Viagra pill for women. 

Whatever it is--we want it and we want it quick. To top it
off, those of us who have gone through menopause have been
told to get off long term hormone replacement therapy
because of cancer risk-so now the hot flashes are back along
with all the worries about the myriad of diseases and
symptoms that HRT supposed helped! 

Most of us in this society are looking for ways outside ourselves 
to demonstrate to others that we are young, alive and healthy. 

But what I've found to be important is what I am thinking, 
what I feeling inside and how I am treating my body.

So, here my first "secret" for feeling and looking younger--
1. Get "physical" and move

One of the most important ways stay young is to move. I
had been an "unserious" runner for many years and now walk
almost every day. Along with walking, I occasionally bike,
roller blade, hike in the woods. Not only is this good for your
physical body, but also for your mental and emotional outlook 
on life. 

You can be angry with the world and if you get moving in whatever
way you find enjoyable, your anger will transform into constructive
action.

Since I started going through menopause, I began lifting
weights at least once a week. It's good to have someone help you
set up a routine that's right for you. Lifting weights is good
for keeping bones strong if you're prone to osteoporosis as
I am so I keep this as part of my overall exercise program.

What has really helped me to stay young is stretching everyday 
and the practice of yoga. To become flexible, I recommend
finding a yoga class and go regularly or at least buy a yoga
videotape and practice in your living room. Make the time--even 
if it's just 15 minutes when you get up in the morning--to 
stretch and move your muscles. 

If I don't do anything else during the day, I move my spine, 
breathing into my belly. Keeping your spine young is one
of the major challenges as you get older so begin to move it now!
Moving your spine will stimulate life to flow through your entire
body and will help you to heal.

Intentional breathing exercises were hard for me to incorporate 
into my daily routine. For years, I knew that I breathed
shallowly and knew that I needed to practice but didn't do 
anything about it.

Gay Hendricks (http://www.hendricks.com) has a wonderful videotape on how to breathe for health and vitality and I have found his teachings very helpful. You can do this at your desk or 
at a stop light in your car so it's easy to incorporate into your 
life.

Finally, I just enjoy dancing in my living room by myself!
I put on music by Gabriel Roth, B Tribe, Khrisna Das or
Fleetwood Mac and just dance. Dancing brings me joy.

Do what movement brings you joy--but just move.

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Susie, along with her partner and husband Otto, help people create the relationships and lives that they've always wanted to
have.  They offer relationship and life coaching and several books
on relationships.  For information on coaching and their products,
visit http://www.collinspartners.com

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