At 79, still in demand as an actor and a grandmother to 13, Felicity Kendal has an admirable workout routine \u2013 and she shows no signs of slowing down. Not only does she keep a pair of dumbbells backstage, her weekly routine also includes strength training, dog walking and hatha yoga. <\/p>\n
But The Good Life star says her daily exercise habit isn\u2019t about how she looks \u2013 it\u2019s to keep her moving. She prefers being \u2018outside, walking through the open air, or at the gym, which I try to do regularly. It\u2019s nothing to do with looks,\u2019 she told The Guardian<\/a>. \u2018It\u2019s just if I don\u2019t stay active, I\u2019ll fossilise. You have to keep moving at my age or you run out of energy.\u2019<\/p>\n As we get older, general stiffness can set in \u2013 and, as Felicity knows, exercise can help. \u2018It may be tempting to rest, but exercise is crucial for maintaining flexibility, strength and healthy muscles,\u2019 says Good Housekeeping\u2019s Dr Sarah Jarvis<\/a>. \u2018Weight-bearing exercise (any aerobic exercise except swimming and cycling) is great for bone as well as muscle strength.\u2019<\/p>\n As we age, particularly as we move into our late 70s and beyond, ‘the goal isn\u2019t to train like an athlete. It\u2019s to preserve independence and quality of life,’ says Dr Snehal Pinto Pereira<\/a>, associate professor in population health and applied statistics at Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health<\/a>. \u2018The greatest health benefits come from combining regular aerobic activity, such as walking, with exercises that maintain muscle strength, including chair rises and resistance band exercises, as well as activities that improve balance, such as tai chi. Even small amounts of activity accumulated throughout the day can make a meaningful difference.\u2019<\/p>\n