Ed DeBoo PT

OK, let's get this out of the way first: at 54, I do not consider myself a senior! But we're all getting there eventually, and I have definitely reached the point where I'm finding it a lot harder to stand up from the floor. A mostly sedentary life and too many extra pounds certainly aren't helping, and neither is my lifelong aversion to exercise. But, especially as someone who lives alone, the thought of reaching the point where the movements of daily life become too difficult is scary show more enough to make me think maybe I should actually make some sort of attempt to prevent it.

And so, this book. The exercises here are short, simple, not too taxing, and make no assumptions about one's fitness levels going in, which is exactly the sort of thing I need. Each one comes with instructions, illustrations, and a list of which muscles and abilities they target. In general, they're fairly clear, although I do find I sometimes have trouble getting the technique right. Which may be more my fault than the book's, it's hard to say. Some of them seem a lot more appealing to me than others, but at least some of them are exercises I'll actually do, which are, of course, the most important kind.

Also included are a set of routines incorporating multiple exercises, each aimed at helping improve a particular area of one's body or life. Well, supposedly, anyway. Some of the targeting feels like a bit of a stretch, no pun intended. Exercises for gardeners make a certain amount of sense, but an exercise set for people who like to travel? OK, if you say so. And this section is a little too heavy on the rather condescending-sounding rah-rah encouragement for my taste, too. Still, the routines look fairly reasonable, and I think I'm going to try at least a couple of them, although I haven't done so yet.

How much of any of this will actually stick for me and get incorporated into any sort of routine, it's hard to say, realistically. But any book about exercising that doesn't instantly make me want to run away screaming is useful, so I appreciate the gentle approach here. Even if it's gentle because it's aimed at people older than me, I'll take it. show less

Get the ultimate guide to strength training for seniors with these easy, 10-minute exercises that Booklist calls "...an ideal starter for exercise newbies."Staying strong and flexible becomes even more important as we age. This guide to exercise for seniors makes it easy to stay in motion with short and simple exercises you can do anytime and anywhere. With clear illustrations alongside step-by-step instructions from licensed physical therapist Ed Deboo, you'll learn how to build muscle show more mass, improve bone density, and feel great in only 10 minutes per day.A 3-part plan—Start with the principles of strength training before diving into 40 individual exercises, then put it all together with 25 combined routines that help you target every muscle group.No equipment required—Get strong at home with bodyweight exercises such as squats, lunges, and push-ups, along with moves that can be done with items you have on hand like soup cans and gallon jugs.Boost overall well-being—Discover how getting active gives you the confidence and independence to stick with your favorite activities, and build endurance for new adventures.Strength training support—No matter your age or current fitness level, these exercises can be modified to work for you!Live longer and stronger with 10-Minute Strength Training Exercises for Seniors. show less