However, it is unfortunate that seniors are the least physically active of all Americans. In fact, close to 40 percent of men and women over the age of 70 report that they never exercise at all, little realizing that the older they get, the more crucial regular physical activity becomes. Exercise classes are a simple and very effective way for seniors to turn the clock back on a vast array of debilitating conditions that only get worse with advancing age.
Even if you haven't made exercise a regular part of your life long before you reach the senior years, research shows that, even if initiated later in life, a regular exercise program offers profound health benefits. And you certainly don't have to be a world-class athlete to stay in shape. What you need to do is get off that couch or out of that rocking chair and start moving. It took many years to get into the shape you are in now, but it won't take anywhere near that long to get into the best shape you can be in. You start with only a few minutes a day and, as your muscles begin to respond, you gradually increase the intensity and length of your program.
Many older people avoid exercising because they are afraid that it will be too "hard" or that they may be injured. Much to the contrary, regular exercise will reduce your risk of injury and may very well help alleviate any pain you already have.
Here are a few of the many benefits reaped by seniors who regularly engage in appropriate exercise.
Why Seniors Should Exercise
Regain Mobility: One of the main reasons the elderly lose mobility is because their muscles deteriorate. The only way to combat this is to rebuild those muscles by using them in an appropriately intense exercise regimen. We will help you start strengthening exercises, which include resistance bands and free weights, at a level that is comfortable for you. Over time, you can gradually increase the level of intensity so your muscles are always challenged without aggravating or causing pain. Strong muscles are needed for everyday tasks like housework, gardening, and lifting bags of groceries, after all.
Increase Bone Strength: Your bones form the framework of your entire body. Osteoporosis or thinning bones cause about half of all women over the age of 50 to suffer painful fractures and breaks. On the positive side, bone is living tissue that responds to weight-bearing physical activity. As new bone tissue forms, the bones get stronger.
Keep Your Balance: Many seniors fall and break bones because they no longer have good balance. In our exercise classes, we will pay special attention to balance training, which, by keeping you on your feet, will significantly reduce the likelihood of falls.
Improve Your Physical Health: Exercise reduces your risk for type 2 diabetes, prevents heart disease by reducing many of the risk factors, and among other benefits, plays a key role in guarding against many types of cancer.
Improve Your Mental Health: Although the link between anxiety, depression, and exercise isn't quite clear, it is indisputable that regular exercise can help manage stress, reduce depression, and improve your mood. Additionally, exercise can improve some aspects of mental clarity and cognitive function, such as the ability to shift your focus between tasks.
If you are a senior, please do not use your age as an excuse not to exercise, but as a reason to do so.
While the word "exercise" may conjure up images of running laps around a track, let us assure you that our exercise classes include a wide range of activities specifically tailored to suit your current physical condition. Let us help you regain muscle strength, prevent bone loss, improve your flexibility and balance, sharpen your mental clarity, help reduce any depression and stress you may have, and give you an entirely new outlook on life.
