No matter your age, exercise is an important daily activity we all should take part in.
It can be a chore at times. But exercise provides so many benefits to our bodies, overall health, and mental wellbeing. Once you push past that first hurdle and start making exercise a habit, you’ll find it much easier.
Senior exercise is a little trickier, as we don’t want to push yourself too much and risk injury. That’s why we’ve come up with these 5 tips to help ensure you are able to exercise as safely as possible.
1. Visit a Doctor Before Beginning
A key to safe senior exercise is to visit your doctor before you begin any kind of daily exercise regimen. You should share with them all of the types of exercise you intend to do.
With your doctor’s help, you’ll learn what exercises will work well and which ones you should avoid. It will give you a good idea of what limitations you may have so that you can be certain to choose the best exercises for your situation.
2. Remember to Warm Up and Cool Down
It’s no good to jump right into your chosen senior exercise. You need to warm up before every session and then cool down after the session.
This prevents injuries from occurring.
Just 10 minutes of easy stretching before and after you exercise will make all the difference.
3. Keep it Slow and Simple
You’ll want to pace yourself, especially if you’re just beginning to exercise. Start off slow and simple with some stamina-building exercises such walking or swimming.
These kinds of routines will help you avoid putting too much stress on your joints or bones.
4. Choose Exercises You Enjoy
For some of us, exercise will never be fun, no matter how much it may help our lives. This is why you should always pick out the exercises that interest you the most.
This works even when you are working with a personal trainer. When you want to transform personal training into something you truly enjoy, make sure to tell them the exercises you like best.
When you’re enjoying what you’re doing, you’ll be more inclined to keep doing it.
5. Be Mindful of Your Limitations
Perhaps the most important thing to always keep in mind whenever exercising is to know your limits. Knowing when to stop is a great way to prevent falls and other injuries from happening.
There’s no problem stopping when you need to stop. Sometimes simply taking a break for a few minutes is all it takes. After you’ve had that break, then you can try to get back at the regimen.
Always be truthful with yourself and you’ll find that you’re getting the most out of any exercise.
Senior Exercise is Easy Once You Learn How
With the help of all these tips, you’ll find that getting that vital exercise is easier and safer. Being healthy is a condition everyone should aspire to.
It makes our lives happier and lets us enjoy life to the fullest.
It’s never too late to start. Don’t forget to use these tips when planning your next exercise regimen.
Enjoy!
