It’s been quite a year! Hurricane Wilma proved that you can’t fight Mother Nature in the most humbling and terrifying manner. As I hauled furniture back and forth, picked up debris and managed to help others with their seemingly endless cleanups, I couldn’t help thinking how fortunate I am to be in enough shape to lift those branches and take down those shutters.

As we age, it’s important to really take notice of how you exercise your body to get the most benefit without injury. The old master, Jack Lalanne, always said that he changed his workout routine every six weeks to test new muscles and to keep exercise alive.

I asked Lisa Thibodeau, who is going to be a bride very shortly, what her advice would be for those of us who want to increase our potential safely. The Pilates teacher and personal trainer replied that we should engage in different activities and get out of our exercise ruts.

“I see guys working their chests to build a more impressive body, but they forget about working their backs,” she says. “Many of the body builders forget to stretch, so they lose flexibility and eventually, height.”

Lisa sees a lot of people taking Pilates classes to build strong core muscles who don’t pay attention to form.

“You can do single leg circles until the cows come home, but if you are not imprinting your back to the floor, you’re losing the benefits of this exercise,” she says. “Your abdominal muscles should remain contracted at all times during a Pilates class.”

She also recommends seeing a qualified nutritionist to work out the best eating plan for your body and your daily routine.

“Chris Fuzy is an excellent nutritionist with solid knowledge behind him,” she says. “Your trainer can offer tips, but it really pays to see a professional to get the results you want for your individual needs.”

Fotis Papamichael suggests that those who take regular spinning classes invest in a $30 heart rate monitor to really pump up their workouts.

“You’ll see if you’re pushing it too hard or not enough,” he says.

Weight trainers can kick it up a notch by adding an unstable surface to each exercise.

“Add a BOSU ball or rocker board when you’re doing your upper body exercises to challenge yourself,” he says. “You’ll learn to stabilize your knees, hips and ankles and build core strength.”

Beginners or newcomers to the weight training area should seek the help of a professional trainer to ensure proper form and maximize their workouts.

“And don’t forget the importance of a good warm-up before you begin any exercise routine,” he says. “People who rush onto the treadmills or elliptical machines may end up tearing muscles.”

Leslie Glickman, our very own yogini, agrees that changing your routine is essential in developing a well-rounded yoga practice.

“If you’re always taking advanced classes, try a beginner’s class to get back to the foundation of the poses,” she says. “And if you’ve been stuck at the beginner’s level for a year, challenge yourself and take an intermediate and advanced class. You don’t have to do every pose.”

Remember, says Leslie, that every teacher has something worthwhile to bring to the classroom.

“Check your motivation and intention as you begin your class, “she adds. “What do you want to get from your workout? We all have different reasons for exercising. Some of us want to lose weight, or reduce stress, or simply escape from our daily routine.

“Pay attention to why you’re in class or in the gym and focus on that intention. You’ll derive much more from your practice if you’re focused,” she says.

In yoga, as well as other forms of exercise, if pays to read about the activity and learn more about the dynamics. Reading about how and why a certain pose or exercise works can give you more depth and understanding. For example, learning that Warrior pose is more of a hip opener than a lunge makes your positioning more precise.

We live in an area where there are so many excellent workshops and seminars on physical fitness that it pays to take classes with other teachers to gain a broader perspective.

Runners can try new routes that are more challenging, or run with a group instead of solo. Bikers can find new trails instead of heading down the same path.

“Taking an exercise vacation may propel you to greater heights,” says Leslie who points out that in Yoga Journal there are many yoga retreats available in exotic places.

We are lucky to be living in a time when the old adage of “over the hill” takes on a whole new meaning. As we become proficient in our workouts, we should push even harder to find new hills to climb and “get over”, no matter what our age.