Strength for Longevity

Thoughts and a Video to Get Started!

Have you noticed lately that everyone and their brother is talking about how strength training benefits longevity?

We already know that lifting weights builds our muscles and strengthens our bones, but recent medical research shows strength training can improve much more including our executive function and memory, mitochondrial function, blood pressure and metabolism.

Weight training invites us to live better longer, not just add years—but keep us functional, independent, and strong as we age.

What I like best about strength training? Two things: first, I can still do things I did when I was younger. (Such as a cartwheel!) The challenging yoga poses that I’d tried to perfect for many years in my 20’s became much easier once I started pumping iron in my 40’s. Second: strength training makes me feel strong. I know that sounds redundant, but it’s true! At any age, if you have physical strength, it causes a feeling of confidence and ability that meshes into the fabric of your everyday life.

The way I train myself and my clients is through functional training. Instead of isolating movements I like to challenge the whole body to be engaged while weight lifting. This way of lifting is actually more natural as we rarely isolate muscles in our daily life. Our core (abdominal muscles) and our glutes (butt muscles) should be engaged far more often than we would expect with natural movement. Training is all about teaching the nerves to innervate the right muscles at the right time and in the right plane of motion so that we can do this naturally when we are out and about in our daily lives. (This takes time and practice, which is why we continue to train.)

Today I am offering a video of one of my favorite exercises - a single arm/single leg bicep curl. If you are new to training, start with low or no weight (and always ask your doctor if strength training is right for you before proceeding with any exercise program!) As I explain in the video, doing a bicep curl is cool…but doing a bicep curl as you strengthen your core and lower body is awesome! Enjoy and look for more posts like this in my Yoga + Training Studio section!

🥬By the way, this month marks 1.5 years of Courage and Kale. I keep this space “by-donation” because it feels more organic and genuine than putting my words behind a paywall. I love to share my professional expertise here, as well as my humble + raw ramblings. I want you to know that your support keeps me chugging along with this publication.

So, if you’re already a donating member—thank you!. 🙏❤️
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