Exercises for Seniors

Has exercise been a four letter word in your vocabulary? Don't overwhelm yourself when you decide to make an improvement to your physical health by incorporating exercise into your everyday life. Keep it simple at the beginning. Start with stretching. Stretching feels good and is a good way to keep muscles flexible, improve joints, strengthen muscles, and improve blood circulation which is good for the heart. Stretching may help alleviate or avoid muscle related injuries.

Yoga

Stretching is somewhat related to Yoga - which has been said to slow or even slowly reverse – the aging process. As we age we tend to move less which in turn leads to limited flexibility and muscle strength. Yoga is the perfect low impact form of exercise to re strengthen muscles, improve your circulation and flexibility.

One of the key elements of yoga teachings is learning to breathe correctly. As we age, we do not take the full bodied breaths we did when we were younger. Yoga re teaches us the correct method of breathing. The standing stretches can improve balance and co-ordination

Yoga has also shown to help seniors with the following ailments - sleep disorders, arthritis, depression, chronic pain, and hypertension.

Walking/Hiking

Incorporating a walking routine in your life will no doubt benefit your health and can be easily incorporated into your life.  There is no expensive equipment to buy.  If you have sidewalks and a safe area, walk your neighborhood.  Buy a pedometer and increase and challenge your time and distance.  In the winter, you can walk the mall or get a treadmill. To get a positive impact from walking you must work yourself up to a quick pace. Leisurely strolling along will not benefit your body to any great degree.

The benefits of walking - improvement of cardiovascular function, weight control, blood pressure, builds endurance and muscle strength, helps build and maintain bones and muscles.  It's also a great way to socialize and get outside and exercise. You can combine it with an interest like bird watching. It's an activity that can also be a social opportunity.

Swimming

Swimming is easy on the body.  Swimming allows seniors to move their bodies without bearing their weight. Swimming results in many health benefits to seniors including more flexibility,improved muscle tone and strength, cardiovascular conditioning, weight and appetite control, and reduced risk of osteoporosis.

Golf

The stereotype of seniors and sports conjures up the golf course for most. This sport can be enjoyed for it's benefits of fresh air, walking exercise, and social bonus. Studies show that men and women who play golf on a regular basis have a 40% lower incidence of mortality. It can add 5 years to your life! If you find it hard to force yourself to regularly walk and exercise but have an interest, start a get together with friends. Golf can be played at almost any age. This will make it even easier to keep up a routine and the social interaction is great way to avoid depression.

Weight Lifting for Seniors

We are able to build muscle at any age. The importance of muscle in our overall health make up is even more important than at a younger age. Strength training is important to people of all ages but especially important to seniors. Muscle can help protect our old bones from falls and impact. Although some weakness is expected as we age , the degree of weakness is up to the individual. Resistance exercises can help stall the normal decline of strength and muscle mass. Muscles tend to weaken with age, and this factor can effect seniors independent and active lifestyles. Before beginning any type of regimen it's important to discuss your plans with your doctor. It is also advisable to take the advice of a professional trainer if you have that option available. Seniors report some of the benefits they experience is an ease to their every day activities, an increase in balance, arthritis relief, weight loss, depression relief, and improved quality of sleep. Click here to read more....

Resources
Exercise Video for Senior Citizen
Senior Exercise Video and DVD's
Videos for senior citizens and mature adults
Senior Store