Sept. 18 Fitness briefs

“Neuro Night is a very informative seminar series spoken in a language all audiences can understand,” said Scott Steinmetz, Canterbury executive director, in a news release. “This month's topic is especially valuable because it affects and includes all age groups.”

The seminars are free and open to everyone, but preregistration is requested. To register or for more information, call 217-4254. The event includes a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. The seminar begins at 6 p.m. The Fountains at Canterbury is a senior living community. For more information on the community, call 381-8165 or go online to www.watermarkcommunities.com.

Stay sharp as you age

Age often brings a decrease in cognitive ability. TOPS Club Inc. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) offers these tips for older Oklahomans to help keep their minds sharp. Stay mentally active. Play games that challenge your mind, such as Sudoku, crossword puzzles, chess, cards and memory games. Take adult education classes, start a new hobby, attend lectures. Take a different route home than usual. A little change can keep the mind engaged. Keep a journal. Translating your thoughts, activities and experiences into writing requires mental agility. It can help boost your memory. Get enough sleep. Older adults should try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Be social. Spending time with others can fend off depression and stress, which can lead to memory loss. Join a social group, go out to lunch with friends and volunteer. For more information about TOPS, go to www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

Dieting is great as long as you're losing weight. But many dieters hit plateaus, long periods in which they can't seem to lose an ounce despite eating right and exercising. Life Fitness, a manufacturer of gym-quality exercise equipment, suggests varying your workout routine can help you avoid plateaus.

“Most clubs offer a wide range of classes for all fitness levels and interests like group cycling, boot camp, power yoga or a kickboxing class,” according to a Life Fitness news release. “Sign up for a class to mix up your routine or, better yet, do a different workout each day. It's important to have fun, try new things and change fitness routines often.”

Here are some options:

Strength training. Cardio workouts do wonders for your heart and endurance, but they're not enough. Adding strength training to the mix brings added health benefits, such as a higher metabolism and slower aging. Classes incorporate a variety of accessories, including medicine balls, Bosu balls, hand weights, kettlebells and resistance bands.

Mind and body. Yoga is a popular discipline for improving flexibility and reducing stress. It comes in many flavors, from beginning classes to those that would challenge even yoga masters. Avoid yoga classes that are beyond your current abilities, as you could get hurt. Gradually work your way to more difficult levels as your abilities grow.