Senior Citizen Exercises
From LoveToKnow Seniors
Senior citizen exercises are important for your mental and physical health. You don't have to do anything strenuous or out of your range of motion, but getting some daily activity can make you feel healthier. Read on to learn about the types of exercises specifically for seniors, helpful tools to help you do them right, and how they can make you a happier person.
Before You Start an Exercise Program
Before you start any exercise program, consult your doctor. You may have some limitations as to what you can and cannot do. If possible, bring some pictures or demonstrate the movements for your doctor. This way, the physician can conclude if they are safe for you.
Types of Senior Citizen Exercises
When starting your workout program, you want to try to do exercises in the four areas of physical fitness: stretching, endurance, strength, and balance. Each one of these areas will focus on different parts of your body and gives you a well-rounded workout.
- Stretching
Stretching increases flexibility, which could help prevent injury if you happen to fall.
- Endurance
Running, walking, or riding a bike get your heart rate up, which is good for heart health, lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, and stress reduction.
- Strength
Building and maintaining muscle can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and reduce aches and pains.
- Balance
Working on your balance is essential as a senior. Balance allows you to do many of the physical activities you find pleasurable by lowering your fall risk.
How Exercises Help You Live Healthier
Exercise with good nutrition is important any time in your life. It can be difficult to continue this healthy lifestyle after retirement because your routine has changed. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to get your body back into shape! Exercising has many benefits:
- Decreases depression
- Reduces stress
- Releases endorphins to make you feel good
- Lowers your risk for heart disease
- Lowers cholesterol
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Reduces or stabilizes diabetes
- Increases flexibility
- Reduces fall risks
- Prevents illness
- Preserves range of motion
- Helps you continue doing the same activities
Creating an Exercise Program
You will be able to find many senior citizen exercises to add to your program. DVDs are helpful because you can follow along as you see others doing the movements. Click on the following websites for DVDs you can buy especially for seniors.
This site has a great selection of videos you can purchase such as Tai Chi, stretching, and dance.
This site also has a good assortment of videos for seniors such as yoga, Pilates, and more.
Find strength training using light weights, easy sitting and standing exercises, and endurance types of workout DVDs on this website.
Online Tutorials
If you would rather see pictures of some movements you can do, check out these sites.
Free Videos Online
Did you know there are many videos online that do not cost anything? Check out these sites with free senior fitness videos:
Build Yourself Up to a Full Workout
If you haven't been working out, you need to start out small and slow. You don't want to do too much too soon or you could injure yourself.
Start by working out a few minutes, two or three times a week. Once you start to feel comfortable with this routine, increase the minutes and the number of times a week. You always want to give your body a chance to rest in between your work out days, so don't do the same workout program every day. Alternate between types such as endurance one day and then a relaxing yoga session the next. This way, your body can recuperate after working hard. Finally, keep yourself hydrated and stop if you feel any discomfort.
Find more tips for senior citizen exercises at LoveToKnow Exercise.
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This page has been accessed 519 times. This page was last modified 23:07, 30 September 2008.
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