It seems like the older I get, the more my muscles hold a grudge. Many of the sports I used to enjoy mean a lot of pain afterward. In fact, one study reported that sports are responsible for about 50 percent of all musculoskeletal injuries sustained in the United States.[1]
But that’s not all. Sometimes just doing simple daily tasks can lead to a muscle injury as we age. And treatment options for muscle injuries often involve medications that carry heavy warnings. For example, the FDA currently warns that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.[2]
Maintaining flexibility is an important preventive step we can take to help our muscles and joints age gracefully. Having an arsenal of holistic options like essential oils, yoga, supplements, and natural pain relievers has helped to calm my crabby muscles even as they get ready to celebrate another year.
My Top 5 Tips for Flexibility after 45
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint is truly one of the most versatile essential oils in my wellness cabinet. I use Young Living Peppermint EO for everything. From waking me up in the morning to cooling my feet at night, this oil does it all!
Thanks to the presence of naturally occurring menthol in Peppermint EO, it also supports a healthy muscular system. I keep a bottle at my desk to soothe neck and shoulder muscles after a long day of computer work. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found even more ways to use my Peppermint Essential Oil:
- Long day on your feet? Add 5-10 drops of Peppermint EO to ½ cup of Epsom salts and enjoy a relaxing foot soak.
- Stuck in traffic? Add a roller ball to your Peppermint EO and feel those neck and shoulder muscles calm down.
- Attending your child’s elementary school band concert? Apply 1 drop onto the crown of your head to mellow out those high notes.
2. Yoga
I’ve enjoyed doing yoga since I was a teenager. It’s a natural and valuable practice that’s helped me be aware of how my body has changed over time.There are many benefits to a consistent yoga practice. It focuses attention on our body's abilities at the present moment. It helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. Yoga has even been found to help lower blood pressure in people who have hypertension, as well as lower excessive blood sugar levels in people with non-insulin dependent diabetes. Maybe that’s why Yoga is so valuable for people of all ages.[3]
Yoga Instructor, Lisa McKernan believes that anyone can explore the benefits of yoga as part of a balanced lifestyle. The secret is listening to your body and practicing self-compassion.
“The most important thing to remember is that practice is an exploration,” Lisa says. “Yoga is one of the best ways to relieve stress. It teaches you to relax and focus within your practice. With a little time, this discipline can become part of your everyday life.”
To learn more about developing your own Yoga practice, follow Lisa on Facebook or check out her studio, Yoga Balance.
3. Cool Azul Pain Cream
You read that right! This amazing Young Living product has been FDA approved to treat pain. Cool Azul helps to alleviate pain deep in the muscles and joints. I keep a tube of Cool Azul in my workout bag for fast-acting pain relief without synthetic ingredients.
The benefits of naturally occurring menthol in Young Living’s Peppermint EO are intensified in this soothing salve that also contains Wintergreen essential oil. Topping its powerful list of ingredients are: Copaiba EO, Blue Cypress EO, and Sage EO (nicknamed the “master herb” by Lakota Indians for its cleansing and nerve tonic properties.)
To learn more about the science behind Cool Azul Pain Cream, Check out the video below.
4. Sulfurzyme
This is one of my favorite supplements. I use it daily to support skin, hair, nails, and muscles. Sulfurzyme® contains MSM, a naturally occurring organic form of dietary sulfur. Our body uses sulfur every day to maintain the structure of proteins, protect cells and cell membranes, replenish the connections between cells, and preserve the molecular framework of connective tissue.* Young Living Sulfurzyme is one of the most effective MSM formulas on the market due to the addition of Ningxia wolfberry powder which helps to increase absorption.[4]
You can make my favorite afternoon pick-me-up, "The Red Drink", by mixing 1/2 tsp. Sulfurzyme Powder, 2 oz NingXia Red and 8 oz water. Get ready for a delicious energy treat!
5. Agilease
My muscles can really hold a grudge when I skip my daily dose of Agilease. This supplement is intended for healthy individuals looking to gain greater mobility and flexibility through the reduction of inflammation. But Agilease is especially beneficial to athletes, as well as middle-aged and elderly people as well.
A key component of Agilease is UC-II undenatured collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body.[5] It’s the major component of connective tissues that make up several body parts, including tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles.[6] In fact, studies have shown that consuming collagen may have a variety of health benefits, from relieving joint pain[7] to improving skin health. [8] Agilease also contains oils known for their joint health benefits such as Wintergreen, Copaiba, Clove, and Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oils.
If you're looking to support a healthy muscular system, these are some small steps you can take daily to increase mobility and flexibility.
What about you? What are you doing to stay flexible after 45? Share in the comments.
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