When I hear strength training, I immediately think of young people working out at the gym lifting weights. Sure, we all know that as we get older, strength training is important to keep your activity and lifestyle and avoid injuries from falls. But weight-lifting among the young crowd is not for everybody. Especially when you are not a fan of weight-bearing exercise or exercise/sport. Full disclosure, I hate every workout or fitness activity that isn’t fun. Thus, you are not alone in having difficulty getting motivated to maintain a strength-building and fitness routine. Therefore, when I heard about the new book by Dr. Karl Knopf, an expert in the training of seniors and disabled, I wanted to check out the book. Read my review of The Strength Training Bible for Seniors to decide whether this book may be a solution for your strength-building activities.
Contents
Disclosure: The Strength Training Bible for Seniors by Dr. Karl Knopf is a sample of my choice from Pacific & Court. The post is not endorsed by the author or Pacific & Court. I wrote it on my own, and it represents my 100% honest opinion.
Customizable Workouts for any Age to Stay Strong, Active, and Healthy
Dr. Knopf’s book is not one-exercise-fits-all. He organized it into five chapters plus an Appendix. The first chapter introduces the reader and senior to strength training. It dispels the myth that strength training is just lifting weights. On the contrary, it includes stretching, core strength, weight and resistance training, and kettlebells. The author devotes one chapter to each of these four parts.
Each of these four parts discusses the benefits of strength training and potential difficulties, including advice to consult your physician depending on your health conditions. A short overview of the basics of the program is followed by an explanation of the various exercises. These exercises can be done at home and don’t require the potentially “embarrassing” environment of a gym.
Each part has exercise programs of different levels and skills. So you can build up your strength gradually over time.
Like in Style Quality Is Better than Quantity
The author points out the importance of starting out lightly and increasing activities over time. He insists that strength building is not about the quantity of the exercises but the quality. Slow is better than fast.
In my opinion, his discussions of the risks of injuring yourself can help ensure that the book’s user starts safely. Throughout the book, Dr. Knopf points out the need to warm up first before stretching, weight-lifting, etc.
Do I Like the Exercise Programs?
Full disclosure: I hate doing sports except for ballroom dancing. The latter is fun because it involves music, beautiful gowns and visual arts, where I am in the center of the action. Furthermore, I don’t like activities that don’t get a job done or where I don’t see immediate results or anticipate future success.
Dr. Knopf works against this attitude by explaining the benefits of the exercises and their success upfront. Doing so, is a great help for me or reader with a similar attitude like me. His explanations help those in need of motivation to stay with a fitness workout. Consequently, the book may reach people beyond those users who love to exercise and search programs tailored at seniors.
I love the core strength exercises with the fitness ball and the stretching applications. The former are very fun. However, due to my broken wrist, I don’t see myself doing any of the dumbbell or kettlebell arm swings. However, these pieces of training may be great when you love sleeveless tops or gowns. Who loves to showcase their bingo wings?
Who Will Love The Strength Training Bible for Seniors?
Everyone who understands the importance of strength for older persons will find the book extremely helpful when they
- Don’t like to go to the gym,
- Don’t want to fork over to pay a personal trainer for your workouts,
- Lack motivation to build strength, or
- Want to execute your strength training in the privacy of your home but don’t know how.
I am glad to have the book. What I like the most about the book is that the author featured seniors performing the exercises.
What Are My Main Take-Aways from the Book?
Self-assessment of one’s degree of flexibility, warm-up, patience when training for strength and flexibility, and commitment to persistence, among others, are key to staying strong, active, and healthy at any age. A strong body is a piece of continuous work.
The good news is you can start at any age, and Dr. Knopf’s book is a great starting point.
Where to Buy the Book?
Build and maintain strong muscles in the abs, arms, back, bum, legs, obliques, and shoulders. Buy the book now.
You can find Dr. Knopf’s new book The Strength Training Bible for Seniors: The Ultimate Fitness Guide for the Rest of Your Life on
Amazon for $19.17
Simon and Schuster for $21.95
Barnes and Noble for $21.95
Check the shipping costs to pick the cheapest shipping and book price combination.
About the Author
Dr. Karl Knopf has more than 40 years of experience in health and fitness for older adults and the disabled. At Foothill College, he coordinated the Adaptive Fitness Technician Program and Lifelong Learning Institute and taught corrective exercises to disabled students and undergraduates. Furthermore, Dr. Knopf created the “Fitness Educators of Older Adults Association”. He serves as a director at the International Sports Science Association and advisory board member of PBS’s Sit and Be Fit show.
Dr. Knopf is the author of many articles, and books on topics related to workouts to fitness therapy. He is a frequent speaker about senior fitness and the disabled at conferences, on radio and in print media.
Photo of book cover: N. Mölders
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