Exercising is the key to youth

Whenever I see my mother she tells me that she's getting smaller. As she ages, she's appearing to shrink and feeling more aches and pains.

Exercising holds the key to staying young as you grow older. Without exercising we lose three to five per cent muscle mass per decade after the age of 40. By exercising you will continue to challenge and stimulate muscle, ensuring that you're maintaining your muscle tone and, as a result, its functionality.

The good news for my mum is that muscle growth can be stimulated at any age through exercise.
Keeping our muscles toned and active increases the stability of our joints, which not only guards against injury but keeps us both stable and mobile. This control in our muscles will improve our posture and fight this shrinking phenomenon.

The benefits don't stop there. Physical weight-bearing activity will improve our bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures. This combination of stronger bones, increased muscle activation and control will improve your balance, mobility and protect against falls.

With any exercise there is also an element of mental stimulation. Group exercising also brings with it social interaction, often an issue for older people.

In short, it is never too late to exercise. And as the benefits of it can be most valuable when we are at our most vulnerable, by taking up exercise now you are future-proofing yourself against the pitfalls of growing old.

David Higgins is co-founder of TenPilates