Staying active is important at any age, but as we age, our requirements for exercise and nutrition change. Research has shown that regular exercise is crucial for seniors, and more seniors are choosing an active lifestyle over a sedentary lifestyle.
Exercise can help with your mobility, which is an important part of maintaining your independence. Whether you are just starting out with a healthier routine or you’re looking for something new to try, Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center has put together a guide to senior-friendly exercises to keep you moving!
Exercise offers a variety of benefits to seniors, such as:
Falling can pose a danger to older adults. According to the National Council on Aging, every 11 seconds, an older adult is taken to the emergency room for a fall-related injury, and a senior dies every 19 minutes from a fall. With regular exercise, you can strengthen your muscles and improve your balance which can help to reduce your risk of falling by 23%.
When you exercise regularly, you are less likely to have to rely on others for daily tasks. Based on research from Harvard Medical School, regular exercise helps you to be able to cook, bathe, eat, dress, and use the restroom independently.
With regular exercise, you can also prevent or alleviate the symptoms of diseases such as:
If you are at risk for these common diseases, exercise can help prevent these diseases and more!
Exercise helps to promote the release of endorphins. These are neurotransmitters that work to help mitigate pain and provide you with a sense of well-being. Endorphins help to give you energy and can also help you sleep better and reduce stress.
With so many benefits to exercise, you may be wondering what exercises are best suited for seniors. At Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, we recommend the following:
Aquatic classes such as Aqua Zumba or Aqua Strength allow you to get a great cardiovascular and strength workout that is low impact on your joints. With less stress on the joints and bones, aquatic classes are great for those with osteoporosis or arthritis. At Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, we offer a variety of aquatic classes that provide low impact and allow for low or high-intensity challenges based on your needs.
Pilates is another low-impact strength program that focuses on core stability. With this focus on core stability, Pilates classes may also help improve your balance. We offer Pilates classes from beginner to advanced to accommodate seniors of all fitness levels and abilities. From stretching and strengthening to cardio and sculpting, Pilates offers seniors a great, low-impact way to stay fit.
Much like Pilates, Yoga is known for being low-impact and focused on core stability. Yoga also focuses on your aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and mobility. Our Yoga classes are easy on your joints but are weight-bearing, meaning you will need to support your body weight with each posture. This will help strengthen both your muscles and bones. From Gentle Yoga and Meditation to Vinyasa Yoga and Stretch & Flexibility, we have Yoga classes to suit all levels of fitness.
Many of the popular workouts that you commonly see are not fit for seniors to perform. Many of these exercises are better suited to young adults who want to build bulk or shred fat quickly. This can put an unhealthy strain on older adults who have joint pain, balance issues, or problems with their posture. Not sure if a particular exercise is ok for you contact a personal trainer. The personal trainers at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center are all degreed and certified by a nationally recognized organization. They can work with you to help prevent injury or recover after therapy.
At Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, we offer a variety of senior-friendly workout classes to help you on your journey to staying healthy! Contact us today to learn more!
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