Don Beaver, Fitness Director
Our Quail Creek population is primarily comprised of individuals aged 55 to 90+, and far and away the vast majority of us firmly embrace the phrase “active adult community.” Whether it’s walking the community, swimming laps, playing sports (tennis, pickleball, or golf), taking group exercise classes, or working out with weights and/or cardio equipment, QC residents are indeed very active. But it also begs the question, “Why?” After all, aren’t we retired and supposed to be sitting in a rocking chair enjoying our golden years like many of our grandparents often did?
Let’s face it, we baby boomers are a different breed of cat. And by that, I mean that if you trace our decades, you will see that the ‘70s and ‘80s ushered in aerobics classes, popularized 5K and 10K races and even triathlons, as well as witnessed a tennis boom. The ‘90s and the first decade of the 21st century saw record growth in golf course construction, as well as participation in the sport. Most recently, we have experienced an explosion in the popularity of a new sport—pickleball, a game that allows the ever-competitive boomer the opportunity to display athleticism while utilizing hand/eye coordination and our somewhat limited ability to cover a larger court space.
So, what’s the point of it all? I will share with you a conversation that my preventative physician had with my wife and me approximately five years ago:
• First, she said that our lifelong passion for physical activity may not increase the quantity of our remaining years whatsoever. Trust me—that set us back on our heels, to say the least. However, she went on to say that our commitment to physical activity would greatly increase the quality of those remaining years.
• Second, if we wanted to have a clearer picture of our chances of living a long life, we needed to do two things: 1) Look at the length of the lives as well as the occurrence of the two “Big Cs” (cancer and cardiac issues) of our immediate family members (parents, siblings, and “blood” aunts/uncles); 2) Drastically increase the dosage of our intake of the vitamins and supplements that we were already taking. Frankly, I believe that single piece of advice (as well as a healthy lifestyle) is the primary reason that my wife and I were well prepared for the COVID-19 epidemic that swept the globe a few short years ago.
Clearly, I am not a medical professional, and I am not advocating that you follow our path whatsoever. However, I will strongly urge you to continue to remain as active as possible while also encouraging those of you who may find yourself questioning your activity level to also recognize that it is never too late to get started.
The Anza offers a number of group exercise classes that are designed for all QC ages and levels of physical ability. Soon the Canyon Club will be your site for weight and/or cardio training. Golf pros Josh and Nano are offering a tremendous beginner golf academy. Pickleball pro Gary is at your service to introduce you to the game of pickleball. And, most recently, our new tennis pro Donna would be delighted to assist you with that sport. So, there it is. You have no excuse. Find your niche, increase the quality of your life, and let’s enjoy this journey together!