Exercising every day is important for maintaining optimal health. Everyone, including adults ages 65 and over, should aim to be physically active as often as possible. When it comes to moving, the more the better—even if you are a senior.
Among the many benefits to seniors, exercise will help you:
- Improve your strength which will help you stay independent.
- Improve your balance to help prevent falls (regular exercise reduces the likelihood of falling by 23%).
- Give you more energy so that you can keep up with your grandchildren.
- Help prevent diseases like heart disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis.
- Improve your mood and keep depression at bay.
- Improve your cognitive function (a recent study from the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation has shown that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by nearly 50%).
Research shows that regular exercise—staying active—is far preferable to a sedentary life. Any activity is better than none. Just 30 minutes of daily exercise, can help you live a longer, healthy life. It is especially important to get the right kind of activity. Before beginning a new exercise regimen, check with your doctor to determine what kind of exercise is right for you.
Among the very best exercises for seniors are the following:
- Chair Yoga: This excellent low-impact exercise is accessible and helps improve mobility, strength, balance, and flexibility. It will also improve mental health and sleep.
- Walking: One of the most enjoyable forms of exercise, walking can also be a highly social activity that you can do with your friends. Find a nature trail or a park. Walk around a shopping mall or on a treadmill while listening to an audiobook or music. Walking regularly will lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and colon cancer, as well as improve your overall mood.
- Strength Training: Working with lightweight dumbbells is one of the best ways to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. Bicep curls, front raises and tricep extensions are just a few of many ways dumbbells can increase metabolism and help control glucose levels. Be sure to perform exercises properly to reduce any risk of injury.
- Resistance Band Workouts: Who knew that an oversized rubber band could be such an excellent workout tool? This type of workout helps you strengthen your core, improves mobility and balance. And the best thing? Not only are the bands very affordable, you can exercise this way at the gym or at home—very convenient!
Whatever form your exercise takes, just be sure to get up and get moving! Visit our Corpus Christi gyms today!
