Exercise has been in focus for several years now, but it seems like all these new workout trends are best suited for Millennials. Having that in mind, what can senior citizens do to stay fit and remain in shape? When the workouts are so exhausting and daunting, it can be difficult to find the motivation to even start, and fortunately, there is a solution.
Read on to discover five great ways for seniors to stay fit and work out regularly.
Cardio
It’s no secret that our endurance declines as we age, which is why seniors should pay more attention to cardio workouts. Aerobic exercise is important, and everybody will benefit from 30 minutes of daily cardio exercise. Of course, before you put on your sneakers, you should see your doctor and discuss any medical issues that you might have. You can pick any activity you like and that’s convenient for you, be it biking, walking, running, swimming, or tennis, and start off slowly, especially if it’s been a while since you worked out. Up to 15 minutes of cardio three times a week will give great results and allow your body to get used to this new activity.
Power plate
Power Plate classes are very popular among seniors because they are also used for stretching and massaging. They have many benefits, but most importantly, these workouts help increase the person’s flexibility and improve their circulation. It’s also very easy to incorporate some light exercises into these workouts, for example, bicep curls to strengthen one’s arm muscles or bent over rows. On the other hand, if you have a pacemaker, heart disease, or active cancer cells at the moment, it would be best to skip power plate workouts
Indoor training
You don’t have to join the gym or go out if you want to work out, as you can easily do so in the comfort of your home. Find an indoor workout program with exercises you can do in your living room and give it a go. If you live in a facility, things are much easier, as they usually already have certain exercise and fitness programs aimed at seniors. An aged care facility Mark Moran Vaucluse offers exercise classes in their modern gymnasium as well as aqua aerobics, which allows the residents to stay healthy and strong.
Going out
If you’re fortunate enough to be able to ‘hit the road’ and go outside to work out, you can achieve great results rather quickly. Walking is a great way to stay active and with it, you won’t have to schedule any workout sessions. You can walk to the shop, around the neighbourhood, to your friends, or to the park. You can walk your dog or walk to the bank, and work out while getting some work done. If walking isn’t really your ‘thing’, you can always hop on a bike instead.
Flexibility and balance
Staying flexible as we age is as important as it is difficult, and a great way to achieve that is to incorporate yoga into your daily life. Remember to warm up before you start stretching or you can end up with an injury. Different balance exercises are also a good idea as they will not only help you stay strong but make you feel more secure and confident.
The elderly are often worried about their health and don’t exercise out of fear that they’ll get injured. Still, it’s important to remember that even a bit of exercise is much better than none at all, which is why seniors should try to work out as often as they can. Even a brief walk or gentle stretching sessions will do wonders for their health.