East Cessnock Bowling Club is taking a step towards curbing low physical activity rates among older Australians by encouraging them to "roll back the clock" through lawn bowls.
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The Roll Back The Clock program will kick off at East Cessnock Bowling Club on Monday, August 19.
Roll Back The Clock is a Bowls Australia initiative, in partnership with Sport Australia, that aims to boost physical activity rates among Australians aged 65 and over through bowls, light exercise and education.
As little as 25 percent of Australians over-65 currently meet the Department of Health's physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes of activity per day.
Health-related reasons, including physical and mental health, are the main barriers for older Australians participating in sport or physical activities and bowls is seen as a low-impact, socially-inclusive activity that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages.
Roll Back The Clock programs incorporate a two-part activity lasting 30 minutes each, targeting both the body and mind through bowls, functional training, fitness and wellness education, and socialisation.
Sessions are adapted for individuals, with benefits ranging from enabling participants to perform activities of daily life more easily, to withstanding injuries and providing a sense of accomplishment and achievement.
In addition to the physical health benefits, engaging in physical activity and group sports for older Australians provides increasingly important opportunities for socialisation, peer-support, and conversation that reduces the possibility for loneliness related physical and mental illnesses.
Roll Back The Clock will be staged regularly at ECBC over four weeks, with sessions from 11am to 12pm each Monday and Wednesday from August 19. Call the club on 4990 1444 for more information.
