Best Exercises for Seniors

Staying active is important for anyone at any age. But it’s particularly important for seniors. Older adults greatly benefit from regular physical activity. It’s important to keep things moderate, but regular exercise can impact your physical and mental health positively. 

Exercise can improve energy and boost confidence, enhance your ability to get a good night’s sleep, and prevent weight gain. 

And regular moderate exercise can also help to prevent loss of bone density with aging, and even in some cases restore it, as well as aiding in balance.

Exercise can also help to alleviate the pain or stiff feeling of arthritis, improve your cardiovascular activity, and relieve joint inflammation. And there’s more – following a regular exercise routine can also protect you against diseases like colon cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, while also removing the presence of Alzeheimer’s-related biomarkers.

Finally, exercise boosts immune function and can also help to create an overall sense of ease, as it lifts symptoms of depression and anxiety.

What Exercises are Best for Seniors?

So what are the best exercises for seniors? While everyone is different, here are some great ideas for getting the benefits of exercise and enhancing your coordination and balance abilities. 

Yoga

Yoga offers low impact stabilization that will improve your bone strength and flexibility, while helping you build muscle strength.

Pilates

Pilates is also gentle on your joins, and helps to improve your balance, enhance and strengthen your core, and improve your overall stability and strength.  

Aerobic exercise

Boosting your cardiovascular system and strengthening your lungs is a great addition to your exercise routine. And aerobics doesn’t mean you have to take up running or modern dance! Walking, swimming, and the stationary bike are all excellent aerobic exercise activities, and thirty minutes each day is all that’s necessary.

Strength Training

Low-impact training exercises can help to reverse or prevent muscle loss, as well as burning fat. Keep these exercises simple to start, by climbing stairs, doing squats or using light hand weight. Resistance bands are also great, and you can keep these training sessions brief – one thirty minute or three ten minute training times is all that’s needed. 

Exercise with a Friend – or a Group

Whether it’s a group swim aerobics class, a walking group, or a simple chair exercise session with a friend, community not only builds muscle strength and coordination, but helps to provide the social connection and the motivation to keep on exercising as an older adult.

Many Medicare plans offer the SilverSneakers program, providing access to workout videos, as well as gyms and classes; community centers and Meet Up groups may offer yoga classes and walking groups to join near you, too. 

Is It Safe to Exercise as You Age?

The answer is a resounding yes! Exercise keeps you supple and improves your muscle strength, body core, flexibility, and balance. The only caveat is keep it simple, gentle, and don’t overdo it!

Learn More About Longevity Herbs

Along with exercise, if you want to keep your health needs covered, consider adding a healthy vitamin or supplement to your diet. At Longevity Herbs, we are happy to help!

If you’d like to learn more about Longevity Herbs, browse our product selection online, or contact us today.