The Group met on Thursday 27 May at Stratton Village Hall for a talk on Health & Fitness, by Aron Bruton. Aron has been a fitness instructor for 20 years and now runs his own health club, Herringston Health Club & Spa, at Charlton Down, which has been open for 5 years and includes running a very successful Seniors Fit Club.

Half the UK population suffer with back problems and Aron wished to highlight the important things needed, especially as we get older, to help look after our backs. A common area for back problems was in the lower back, one of the main causes being carrying a little too much extra weight, or as the result of an old injury. One of the best things we could to strengthen ourbacks was to lengthen the hamstring muscles and to increase circulation through the
spinal column. Aron then went on to demonstrate some simple exercises which could be done, regardless of age or fitness level. These involved rocking from side to side (either on the floor or on a bed) and sitting in a chair and gradually raising and straightening our legs (stretching through the hamstrings), cat stretching (flat back and raised back). He then went on to explain how sitting in a warm bath was also very good for the body and the lymphatic system and helped the whole body and the muscles to relax and increased circulation.
Standing and sitting could become a big chore as we get older. Muscles work less efficiently as we age because we don't work them as well as we used to. So by practising a few simple exercises 3 or 4 times each day, such as standing and sitting, raising and lowering arms, very basic sit-ups (which could be done lying on a bed) we could improve and strengthen these. Also as we age the body tends to store additional fat around the body and it is important to try and keep this under control as it causes compression in the arteries and veins.

Aron then went on to demonstrate how a body composition analysis machine worked, for which a volunteer was needed, and Shirley Turner kindly agreed to assist. Shirley was asked to stand barefoot on the machine which sends radio currents through the soies of the feet. The machine measured the following:

Weight
Body Mass Index (average should be 20-25)
Basal Metabolic Rate (how many calories your body is able to remove without moving
a muscle - average should be 1200 - 1600 calories).
Fat Percentage (guidelines for women was under 35%)
Fat Mass
Fat Free Mass
Total Body Water (guidelines for women should be between 65 - 69% fluid).
This was a very interesting and informative evening and certainly helped to make us more aware of our bodies and levels of fitness!

Our annual outing will take place on Thursday 22 July 210 - further details will be available at our next meeting.