Exercise Tips for Seniors
Regular physical activity is an important part of healthy aging. Exercise can strengthen your muscles, bones, joints, and improve your overall health to ultimately allow you to lead an independent lifestyle well into your elder years. But physical activity isn’t always easy, especially if you haven’t exercised in a long time.
Here are a couple pointers to help get you back on track to becoming a physically active, independent senior.
Consult your physician
Before diving into a new exercise routine, meet with your doctor. He or she will be able to advise you on which exercises and routine are best based on your health status.
Start Out Slow
Follow the advice of your doctor, and start with the basics. A good progression to follow is to begin exercising 10 to 15 minutes each day, increasing your time as your body allows. Simply walking around your neighborhood or assisted living facility grounds 15 minutes a day is a great start. Also, try to have one or two days focused on strengthening activities, such as lifting light weights.
Join a Fitness Center, or Don’t!
Joining a local fitness center is always a great option, especially if you are looking for fitness classes to participate in. Another benefit of going to a gym is that there are usually fitness professionals on staff that can help you out. But exercising doesn’t need to take place at a gym. Weather permitting, the great outdoors offer plenty of space for physical activity. And when it is too cold or rainy to exercise outside, there are plenty of exercises that can be completed in the comfort of your home.
It can be difficult to get back into the swing of things, but after you get into an exercise routine you will begin to see the difference in your health. Regular physical activity can also become a social event. Exercising with another person can boost both physical and mental well-being. If you are staying in a senior living home, you have an entire community of elderly peers to exercise with. Tysons Woods Assisted Living in Northern Virginia offers many ways to help stay fit and healthy, even in old age!
