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More and more physical activities are being geared toward the senior and boomer population, and a lot of them aren't much different than those offered the kids. We see senior marathons, tennis and even senior Olympics.

There's no excuse for not staying active and certainly none at all for not continuing to play like you were a kid, even though the years are adding up. Aging gracefully takes on a whole new meaning when people start realizing that the golden years isn't a meaningless label. It's time to live and shine, unhindered by the demands of work and a young family.

Whether you are trying to work your fitness program around your globe-trotting lifestyle or whether you are more comfortable staying home and playing with your grandchildren, a little effort to stay in the fitness game means you will be able to maintain your independence longer.

According to the World Health Organization, inactivity is as bad for your health as smoking. A non-active lifestyle can lead to declines in bone and muscle strength, heart and lung fitness and flexibility, all of which may detract from your ability to enjoy life as you age, or even take care of yourself.

If you want to get moving but aren't sure how to start, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends four types of exercises for older adults and seniors who want to stay healthy and independent. They focus on strength, balance, stretching exercises, and endurance exercises.

Strength exercises build older adult muscles, contribute to stronger bones, improve your posture and increase your metabolism, which helps to keep your weight and blood sugar in check.

Balance exercises build leg and core stability muscles. Balance decreases as we age, and unfortunately, falling is a major problem as a result. Improving your balance helps to prevent falls. When selecting balance training exercises, keep it simple; activities that you perform daily can be modified to build better balance.

An exercise as simple as standing still with one foot raised slightly off the floor works wonders. Tai chi is another great way to build balance because it involves slow, co-ordinated movements that often require you to lift one leg.

Stretching exercises are designed to help you maintain and improve flexibility, giving you more freedom of movement, allowing you to be more active during your golden years. Flexibility decreases as we age, so it's important to keep your joints supple by regularly stretching. Stretching exercises for your muscles to take the joints through their full range of motion.

Consider getting involved in yoga and pilates as a means to promote flexibility. A simple stretching routine following endurance exercises is also effective.

Endurance exercises are activities like walking, jogging, swimming =, biking and even raking leaves because they increase your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Endurance activities help your heart, lungs and circulatory system stay healthy and give you more energy.

If you have not been doing physical activities for a long time, start with a basic walking program. Walk around your block today and tomorrow, walk two additional blocks the rest of the week, and then just keep adding until you can embrace a daily brisk 40-minute walk.

Reflect as you walk on the rewards of an active lifestyle that can actually slow or even reverse the effects of aging. Even small changes in an inactive lifestyle can yield huge rewards.

* Jim Levine's column discusses seniors and their lifestyles, looking at traditional and non-traditional issues that dominate our discussions about the care and comfort of the older members of our society in New Brunswick. Please send any comments or suggestions about life out of the fast lane to Jim at thisweek@brunswicknews.com.