Activity is a key component of health for any human being – young and old, in sickness and in health, and wherever you may be in the world. With this in mind Physiopedia has started a new campaign to ask the world to “just keep moving” and we would love it if you would get involved.
Eki is a valued Physiopedia volunteer and has kindly taken time to share what #justkeepmoving means to them. Take it away Eki!
I do not consider myself as athletic and I do not really enjoy playing a competitive sport; although badminton is an exception. Even though both of my parents had been pushing me to follow their leads in the athletic world (they are not professional athletes but often participated in tennis competitions) for as long as I can remember, I have only found my love of exercise at university. Tempted to make the most of my student discount, I registered for a gym membership. During those years at university (both during my bachelor and master degrees), I regularly participated in activities in which I did not need to compete with other people. I found that I love yoga and zumba the most. Now that I no longer have student discounts, I continue to do yoga in the comfort of my own room.
When I was younger I used to take physical fitness for granted. I was surrounded by physically fit people, so I thought I would naturally grow up to become physically fit myself. Only in my late teenage years I discovered that I had to gain physical fitness, not inherit it. *face palm*
However, I am not going to talk about my journey towards physical fitness in this post. Instead, I want to talk about two people I aspire to become in terms of physical fitness. Nope, they are not professional athletes or even my parents. They are my two beautiful grandmothers.
I am lucky to have grown up with my grandmothers alongside me. Sadly, I did not get to meet my paternal grandfather and I only knew my maternal grandfather until I was 6 years old. My paternal grandmother (whom I call Eyang) passed away peacefully in her sleep 3 years ago at the age of 91. Meanwhile, my maternal grandmother (whom I call Mama Tutik) is still with us now, healthy and happy, at the age of 83.
‘Why do you look up to them in terms of physical fitness?’ you may ask. It is because they are both remains physically active and fit in their old age. Eyang had type 2 Diabetes which was controlled by diet. Otherwise she was healthy, mobile, and active until her last days despite her dementia. It was actually her dementia that prevented her from functioning properly in her last two years. But before that, she was always walking around her big house, cooking, going shopping, and doing other chores.
Similarly, Mama Tutik has to be begged to stop doing her home chores. In the last few months she had to be hospitalised a few times due to chest pain and now she remains under the care of a cardiologist. That was the point where her children begged her to stop doing chores at home and provided her with a caterer and daily cleaner. But oh boy, how stubborn she is. She still sneakily washes her clothes (manually), sweeps the floor, and tidies up what is already tidy. She just cannot bear the inactivity. Up until a few months ago, just like Eyang, Mama Tutik was always active at home and at the elderly exercise group she attended weekly. Living alone provided her with the freedom to do what she wanted; like cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning the house, socialising with the neighbours, and going shopping. It seemed like she always had something to do until she got sick recently.
Indonesians are known to keep people bedbound when they are sick. But I am proud to say that my grandmothers are not like that. They know their capacity and they always choose to be active when they feel able to. Mama Tutik once said to me that doing nothing makes her body aches. Well, science backs you up, Ma! 🙂
As an individual or a healthcare professional, we are probably aware that the most difficult task is to maintain one’s adherence to exercise. However, research has shown that daily moderate lifestyle physical activities (i.e. leisure, occupational, or household physical activities) can have the same health benefits with moderate to vigorous exercise regime as recommended by public health guidelines. That’s good news, right? So, if you are anything like me who can’t always be motivated to exercise regularly, just remember my grandmothers! They refuse to be sedentary, so we should do too!
How Can I Get Involved?
Over the past few few months the team at Physiopedia have been sharing their thoughts about what #justkeepmoving means to them and how they will be getting involved with the campaign. We would love it if you would join us, here are a few ideas:
- Share the #justkeepmoving idea with your patients, together you could set goals for keeping moving.
- Share the #justkeepmoving idea with your friends and family to optimise their health.
- Create a #justkeepmoving infographic or poster to share in your clinic or on social media.
- Promote activity by wearing #justkeepmoving on your clothing (we are setting up an online shop specifically for this purpose right now!)
- Design your own #justkeepmoving t-shirt, we’ll add it to the shop, donate the profits to Physiopedia and reward the most popular design, the more the merrier!
- Wear the #justkeepmoving race wear at the next race you enter, you could even fundraise for the #justkeepmovingcampaign via the Physiopedia Just Giving account.
- Set new goals to #justkeepmoving your personal and professional life forwards.
- Or simply send us an article to publish on Physiospot on what #justkeepmoving means to you.