Health and fitness are important for everyone. They are essential in the lives of aging adults as well. Note that as one ages, requirements for these specific lifestyle choices also change. While your loved ones are bound to replace their usual exercises with those fit for their existing condition, you have to encourage them to continue engaging in these physical activities.
You need to make them understand that age dictates why they need to continue staying in shape. Physical fitness has its benefits to offer, but some exercises are considered the best exercises for aging adults. At this time, doctors recommend that they should not overexert in doing these activities. That is the best way for them to live longer, happier, and healthier.
Chair Yoga
This encompasses activities such as seated cow stretch, overhead stretch, seated twist, seated mountain pose, and seated cat stretch. This low-impact exercise aids in improving mobility, flexibility, balance, and muscle strength, and is considered as an accessible form of yoga. When compared to modern forms of yoga, this one provides less stress on bones, joints, and muscles. The exercise has also improved mental health in older adults. It promotes better sleep quality, reduces depression and anxiety, and improves overall well-being.
Pilates
Like yoga, Pilates is also considered great in keeping older adults healthy. This low-impact exercise builds their strength, increases flexibility, develops core strength, and improves balance in the elderly. Basically emphasizing on core strength, concentration, alignment, and breathing, it involves the use of balls, mats, and other inflated accessories. The best Pilates exercises for older adults include leg circles, step-ups, food slides, mermaid movements, and side circles.
Water Aerobics
This is a popular exercise not just for aging adults, but for people of all ages as well. It has been proven that water aerobics, together with other water exercises, are great for individuals suffering from arthritis and other joint pains. This exercise has less stress on the joints, considering the buoyancy of the water. It improves balance, flexibility, and strength without high impact on the body. Your loved ones can perform aqua jogs, leg lifts, flutter kicks, arm curls, and standing water push-ups when in the water.
Walking
One of the most enjoyable workouts that your loved ones will surely want to do is walking. When walking, they can enjoy the parks and sceneries around them. They may also want to have a walk-friendly race with other adults in the community. The good thing about walking is that it lessens their risk for diabetes, stroke, colon cancer, and heart disease. Look for a playlist that will stimulate their minds as they walk, and they will enjoy doing it for sure.
Weighted Workouts
Older adults will find it devastating if they suffer from muscle loss. This is because this can decrease the way they metabolize protein, thus leading to hormone issues and other problems. With weight workouts, they will be able to do away with muscle atrophy. Examples of exercises they can engage in along this line are bird dog, side-lying circles, lying hip bridges, step-up, and squats to chair.
These are but some of the few exercises that your loved ones can engage in to live a better, healthier life. There are a whole lot more to choose from, depending on their situation.
