Youth is wasted on the young. So said George Bernard Shaw, and this was one occasion when he was right on the money. It’s impossible to live to the grand old age of 40 or 50 without a few regrets, and too often, those revolve around not playing more sport when we were young and in our prime.
That’s something that resonates in particular with Gen X-ers in Australia. The Land Down Under has a reputation for being populated by toned and tanned surfers, cricketers and outdoor adventurers in general. The truth is a little different. Australia is facing an obesity crisis that is worse than the UK’s and not far short of the USA, with two thirds of adults classified as overweight or obese. Among various government initiatives to get into shape is a campaign to get older adults playing sport.
It’s something from which the rest of the world can take note. Here, we take a look at some of the best sports to play in your 40s, 50s and beyond.
Golf is the perfect starting point
If you’re carrying some extra pounds and climbing the stairs leaves you breathless, throwing yourself around a tennis or squash court is going to be no fun. Slow and steady should be your mantra, and golf is the perfect starting point. It involves plenty of walking, but with regular breaks, and as you work on your swing, you will discover muscles that you never knew about.
After your first round, you’ll be feeling it, but not to the degree that you will be put off returning for a second, then a third. The other great thing about golf is that it is a game that anyone can play, even a complete novice. But the more you do so, the more you will come to understand the nuances of a perfect swing and grip.
Swimming gives you a complete workout
85 percent of Australians live near the ocean yet one in four cannot swim according to recent research. The good news is that it is never too late to learn, and swimming is one of the best ways to give the body a full workout – but is also relatively kind on muscles that are a little out of condition.
If you are already a competent swimmer, then make a commitment to visit your local pool, you won’t regret it. If you’re not, then as we’ve already seen, you’re certainly not alone. There is a simple science to learning to swim and anyone can do it. Again, check your local pool to find out about adult classes. Most adult non-swimmers would love to learn but are held back by embarrassment. Yet all those adult swimming classes wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a market for them.
Poker keeps you mentally sharp
Nobody is going to suggest that sitting at a poker table playing cards will help you lose weight or get in shape. However, the human body is a complex machine. Research by neurological experts has shown that playing poker does more than just give us a mental work-out. It actually creates new neurological pathways in the human brain. These new pathways encourage faster transmission of information. In other words, poker helps you think faster.
As such, there is a lot to be said for including the occasional poker session among other more physical sporting activities. Plenty of older Australians love to play real money poker at an online poker site or a physical casino. However, you can also play for matchsticks with friends if you prefer! The important thing is getting immersed it the game and taking it seriously.
Cycling is great for all-round fitness
There are few forms of exercise (swimming comes closest) that provide such a comprehensive workout as getting on a bike and going for a ride. It exercises all the muscle groups and is great for cardiovascular fitness, too.
Most of us used to ride our bikes any distance without a second thought as kids. It won’t seem quite so easy when you are 30 years older and carrying an extra hundred pounds or so, but the other good thing about cycling is you can start on day one by literally riding around the block and then gradually crank things up by going a little bit further every day. Of course, you could opt for an exercise bike, especially if you don’t live in an ideal area for cycling. However, getting out on a bike is a great way of getting to know your local area better, too. You’ll see a hundred different features that you never noticed from behind the wheel of a car.
Life begins at 40
We started out with a slightly melancholy aphorism from George Bernard Shaw. Let’s close with something a little more upbeat from Walter Pitkin. His self help book was entitled Life Begins at 40. But while we are collecting pithy epigrams, let’s give the great Oprah Winfrey the final word on the matter. She reliably informed us that 60 is the new 40 – so there is hope for us all.
