EDIT Dec2017: The Super Senior Fitness website is gone. But the videos are still on YouTube.
Came across a website created by a Canadian born in the 1940s who retired to Mexico after a career in fitness and martial arts. It's called Super Senior Fitness.
These short videos show the proper way to handle lifting weights, either a kettle bell or a dumb bell.
For me, I'm happier learning proper form from a trainer. Plus she makes sure that I increase weight at a reasonable pace. After a couple months of focusing on strength training with the goal of building bone to help my spine, I'm using a 20 or 25 lb kettle bell. For dumb bell exercises, I use 8, 10 or 12 lb depending on the situation. In a class, I use lighter weights. With my trainer or working out on my own at the fitness center, I use heavier weights.
Back in 2013, the NY Times wrote up a 7-Minute Workout and it proved to be quite popular. The basic premise is that the workout uses HIIT to achieve maximum results in a short amount of time. HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training and has been researched a reasonable amount in recent years. The NY Times article was inspired by an article with the title "High-Intensity Circuit Training Using Body Weight: Maximum Results With Minimal Investment" from the Amer. College of Sports Medicine's Health and Fitness Journal. My personal trainer suggested I give it a try during a training session about a year after I completed physical therapy for knee rehab. After that I found a free app that makes it easy to do the workout, especially when I am traveling. All that's needed is a little space, a towel, and an appropriate chair.
When I first started doing the 7-Minute Workout, I was in decent shape but I wasn't ready for 30 seconds for some of the exercises. I did what I could, and then took a longer rest until it was time for the next exercise. I felt it was more important to maintain good form than worry about the number of reps. For instance, I started with about 8 pushups at a slow pace. Once I got into better shape, I started doing 10-15 pushups in the 30 seconds. When I'm in good shape, I can do 20 pushups.
Possible progression from easy to harder:
Very slow, stopping before 30 sec up if needed, complete rest for 10 sec
Slow and steady, continue for 30 sec, complete rest for 10 sec
Normal pace for 30 sec, simpler versions for a few exercises, complete rest for 10 sec
Normal pace for 30 sec, good form for all exercises, complete rest for 10 sec
Normal pace for 30 sec, good form for all exercises, active rest for 10 sec
This video demonstrates the entire 7-Minute Workout. She gives good explanations. In this case, active rest is used instead of complete rest. She does exercises that rely on upper body strength the easier way. For instance pushups or the plank from her elbows.
