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Box or stair stepping: Try box or stair stepping to increase aerobic conditioning, leg strength and balance. You’ll need a sturdy box, about six inches high. Push it against a wall for stability. Then step up and down, alternating arms and legs. You can do the same on stairs. Try for 12 repetitions to start. When that feels easy, increase the height of the box or speed of your steps, or start holding dumbbells while you step up and down. (You can find videos showing box stepping and other exercises Jordre recommends here.) Competitive sports: Or maybe take up one of the dozens of competitive sports that are part of the National Senior Games, from swimming and tennis to volleyball and tai chi. Many senior athletes didn’t begin training until after they retired, Jordre said, so it’s never too late to start. It’s also never too early. “My husband and I have changed our training” because of the SAFE research,” said Jordre, 48. They’re weight training more. They’re lifting faster. They’re hoping to be as powerful, agile and simply fit as some of the 70- and 80-year-olds she works with. “If you want a strategy for healthy aging,” she said, “look to these athletes.”
