If you've been following me for a while, you might be familiar with my holistic approach to health, which I named the "The Joyful Vitality System," and that forms the ultimate health optimization system for women over 50 who are fully committed to going strong until old age.

This approach focuses on five synergistically interlinked key elements of health and well-being that all build upon each other, and each of them needs to be in place to establish sustained vitality and feel totally unstoppable.

One of these elements is "Regular Physical Activity."

Our bodies were made to move, not for the sedentary lifestyle many of us lead in this modern age.

Physical activity energizes the body, it strengthens the muscles and bones (and thereby helps to prevent osteoporosis), it improves your brain function, your mood, and your sleep, it helps with weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight, and, very importantly, exercising reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and many other chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease and some forms of cancer.

Of course, you don’t have to become a marathon runner or an lron(wo)man triathlete to reap the benefits of exercise. Actually, overloading your body with too much exercise is a huge stress on it, especially if you have not been a “sports person” so far. So take it easy. Steady does it, should be your mantra.

Walking, leisure cycling, swimming, dancing, or any other form of (moderate) physical activity are all good. The most important point is that you have fun doing it!

What's your favorite form of exercise? Let us know in the comments.