Have you been thinking that the senior in your life needs to exercise more, but you don’t know where to start? This is an important question to ask, considering that we become more sedentary as we age, which can lead to health and mobility issues. 

The benefits of participating in regular physical activity are well-documented. They include:

  • Improved balance
  • More energy
  • Disease prevention and counteraction
  • Improved brain function
  • Greater independence

Let’s look at 5 easy exercises for seniors that will provide all of these benefits:

1. Water Aerobics

In the past years, water aerobics has become a very popular form of exercise among seniors. It’s ideal for people with arthritis or other forms of joint pain. Water’s buoyancy puts less stress on the joints than many other forms of exercise and brings natural resistance, eliminating the need for weights in strength training. It improves strength, balance, and flexibility with minimal stress on the body.

2. Chair Yoga

Just like water aerobics, chair yoga is a low-impact form of exercise. It improves muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, which are vital health aspects for seniors. Chair yoga causes less stress on muscles, bones, and joints than more conventional forms of yoga. Additionally, it’s shown to improve mental health in older adults, as well as being beneficial through better quality sleep, lower incidences of depression, and providing a general sense of well-being.

3. Resistance Band Workouts

Resistance bands are stretchy strips of rubber that add resistance to workouts; they also reduce stress on the body. These workouts are user-friendly and readily accessible to beginners. Resistance band workouts are growing more popular among seniors, thanks to the low up-front cost of materials, making them ideal for at-home exercise. They’re excellent for strengthening the core, which improves balance, posture, and mobility.

4. Pilates

Pilates is a very popular low-impact form of exercise that was developed over a century ago. It focuses on concentration, breathing, alignment, and core strength. Pilates involves using a mat, pilates balls, and other inflated accessories that help build strength without having the stress of high-impact exercises. It’s been shown to improve balance, increase flexibility, and develop core strength in seniors.

5. Walking

One of the most accessible and least stressful exercises for seniors is walking. For some, walking is a more significant challenge than it is for others, so distance and step goals will vary from individual to individual. While walking 10,000 steps per day is advised for a healthy lifestyle, those with joint pain or difficulty walking may settle on a smaller number each day. Walking can be done almost anywhere, indoors or outside. It promotes a healthy lifestyle, strengthens muscles, and lowers the risk of stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer.

The Results and Where to Get Help

These 5 easy exercises for seniors will provide not only physical benefits but also mental and emotional benefits as well. Encourage the senior in your life to try each of them and watch them gravitate towards those they enjoy most.

At Home Instead we’re here to help. Our mission is lifting the spirits of those we serve by offering them dependable and affordable home care options. To learn more about Home Instead Senior Care or to schedule a FREE consultation for a senior in Naples, Fort Myers, Charlotte County, or the surrounding areas today, please visit us at www.homeinsteadswfl.com.