Another healthy tip courtesy of Ryan Krane

As we age, we experience loss of muscle tone, bone density, balance and overall strength. Over an extended period of time, poor posture and poor balance can lead to rounded shoulders and neck and back pain, making you look and feel like a much older version of yourself. The good news is that paying attention to this now can have huge benefits to our overall health.

There are simple corrective exercises that can be added to your existing fitness routine, that can help combat these degenerative signs of aging.

Here are some to try:

– Shoulder Stretch: Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Put your right arm across your chest. Bend your left arm and use it to push the right arm closer to your chest. Hole this position for 20-30 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.

– Single Leg Balance: Stand behind a chair and hold onto it. Lift one leg off the ground and balance on the standing leg for 5 seconds. Put it back on the ground and do the same with the opposite leg.

– Arm Circles: This is a great exercise for toning up the upper arm muscles. Stand with your feel shoulder width apart. Stretch your arms out to the side, holding them in a relaxed position. Starting in a forward direction make tiny circles for a count of 15. Repeat in the opposite direction.

These quick, simple exercises will help improve your posture, reduce chronic aches and pains and maintain your balance.

– Ryan Krane, LA-based fitness consultant and certified corrective exercise specialist, stresses the importance of balance and posture in a fitness/health plan.