It is a well-known fact that exercise can benefit people of all ages. Actually, exercise, in combination with stretching and a healthy diet, can improve your flexibility, help you build muscle mass (which naturally decreases as we age) and benefit your mental wellness.
Did you know that regular exercise can also help you manage certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis, or diabetes? It can improve your overall balance and flexibility, too, which is important for maintaining independence at home.
Other Benefits of Staying Active As You Age
Restful Night’s Sleep
Believe it or not, getting a healthy amount of weekly exercise often makes you sleep better. According to sleep.org, just 10 minutes of aerobic exercise may improve the quality of your sleep, especially when performed regularly: “What’s more, exercisers may reduce their risk for developing troublesome sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.”
Clear Mental Focus
Apart from the many physical benefits of regular exercise, there are also essential cognitive perks, too. Exercise requires you to use your brain–whether you’re walking on a trail or playing with your grandkids in the park–which keeps your mind active and healthy.
When you exercise your brain on a regular basis, you are actively working to keep memory loss and dementia at bay. Exercise also brightens your mood, too!
Better Mobility
Strengthening our core muscles can improve our posture and lead to less slouching, greater flexibility, and improved balance and coordination. Greater balance can reduce the risk of falling or other injuries that are so common for seniors in their homes.
What Is the Best Exercise for a 70-year-old Woman or Man?
As we age, certain types of exercises that we enjoyed doing in our 20s are a lot harder to do now. And because we want to protect ourselves from injury, it’s important that we engage in moderate aerobic activities that help us break a sweat but don’t allow us to overdo it.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recommended that adults over the age of 65 need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, and at least 2 days a week of muscle-strengthening exercises.
Types of Moderate Aerobic Activities
- Brisk Walking
- Aerobic Swimming
- Stationary Cycling
- Dancing
- Gardening
Types of Muscle-Strengthening Exercise
- Regular Stretching
- Yoga
- Calisthenics
- Weight-Resistance Training
*Remember to always consult with your physician before beginning any type of exercise program.
You may already know why it’s important to stay active, but you might still find it challenging to kickstart your fitness routine and start reaping the benefits of an active senior lifestyle. That’s where living at Primrose can help!
What Is An Active Lifestyle Community?
At Primrose, we offer residents a fun, safe and active senior living environment that allows you to get fit and stay social with friends around the community.
Our retirement communities are equipped with wellness centers and exercise programs to help you maintain a healthy routine that suits your schedule and individual health needs. The best part is our staff is always right around the corner, cheering you on and helping you avoid falling or injury, so you feel confident and in control.
What Are the Advantages of Living in a 55-Plus Community Like Primrose?
We all know that working out with friends is often more fun than going at it alone. That’s why we offer weekly fitness programs that are tailored to your skillset, so you focus on having fun while breaking a healthy sweat! Our communities are also designed to allow you to explore the neighborhood and your local surroundings with more convenience.
To see how Primrose helps our residents maintain a fun, active senior lifestyle, call us anytime. We would be honored to answer any of your questions, so you feel better informed to make the right decision about moving to one of the best retirement communities for active seniors.