For many people, their ultimate goal for their retirement stage is to remain as independent as possible, so that they can enjoy a high quality of life in their golden years. The key to achieving longevity for independence in your retirement years is to stay physically active, which can be a tall order for many elderly individuals. The unfortunate effects of aging can lead to a whole host of physical limitations that can make you doubt your ability to sneak in enough exercise to keep yourself fit. Thankfully, you can jumpstart your fitness journey in your retirement community with these low-impact workouts!
Walking
Walking can be a surprisingly effective workout for older adults, despite it seeming so simple. Walking is classified as an aerobic exercise, meaning that it serves the same purposes as other exercises such as cycling, skiing, and even kickboxing. However, walking is much less physically demanding, while helping you to reap bountiful health benefits. In fact, a 30-minute walk a day can be all you need to keep yourself in good health. Regular walking helps to improve your heart health, contributes toward pain relief, and boosts your immune system.
Swimming and Aqua Classes
Swimming and other forms of aquatic exercise are great for older adults, and on top of that, they’re usually a great deal of fun as well! Swimming, while it does seem strenuous at first, is actually a low-impact form of exercise thanks to the buoyancy that exercising in water provides. Hence, the water acts as a low-weight bearing environment that’s great for exercise, even for those suffering from chronic pain and other medical conditions. If your retirement community houses its own heated swimming pool, don’t hesitate to take a dip.
Elliptical and Stationary Biking
Elliptical and stationary bikes are both great options for a low-impact workout for any elderly individual. They’re both less physically demanding than cycling outdoors, which some people, unfortunately, don’t have the capacity to participate in. Despite stationary biking being a less physically demanding activity, it still elevates your heart rate in the same way, stimulating your body sufficiently while remaining comfortable. This exercise can work wonders, especially for older adults experiencing joint problems.
Resistance Exercises
Resistance training helps to boost your muscle strength, training your muscles against a weight or force. Whether you’re training with weight machines, free weights, or resistance bands, resistance exercises are great for increasing your muscular strength and endurance. At a stage of life in which your muscle mass is usually decreasing gradually, resistance exercises can be a great way to counteract the effects of aging.
Yoga
Many older adults flock toward yoga groups and classes, and it’s no wonder why. Yoga is a low-impact form of exercise that not only heals the body, but also the mind. You’ll be surprised as to how much yoga can contribute to the strength and stability of your core muscles, beyond its well-known mood-boosting perks.
If you’re looking to progress onto the next stage of your golden years in a retirement community, look no further than our Independent Senior Living program, which promises you a more fulfilling, more independent retirement life!
