Snap, crackle, pop – it’s not your bowl of Rice Krispies – it’s your knees and back! As we age, our bodies change. Movement and exercise can become difficult as years of activity catch up to us. While staying active may seem difficult, it is crucial for your well-being. It helps you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Yoga, Tai Chi, and gentle exercises are all safe for seniors. They offer movement, balance, and strength that are important for everyone as they age. In addition to the physical benefits of staying healthy, exercise is good for your emotional and mental well-being, too.
Physical, emotional, and mental well-being enhance your quality of life. In this article, we will discuss why exercise matters for seniors and specifically look at yoga, Tai Chi, and gentle exercises. So, lace up your tennies. It’s time to get active!
Why Exercise Matters for Seniors
Yoga for Seniors
One of the great things about yoga is how adaptable it is. You don’t have to turn yourself into a pretzel to get benefits from yoga. If you are worried about your balance, there are even chair yoga exercises you can do. If you don’t know any yoga moves, check out a book or exercise DVD from the library. There are plenty of videos and apps available on your phone and laptop too. You can start off slowly and increase difficulty as you progress over time. Yoga is great for improving flexibility and balance. It also helps you to quiet your thoughts and either start and/or finish your day in a positive mindset.
Tai Chi for Seniors
Tai Chi is a low-impact practice that started as a martial arts form. People enjoy its slow, deliberate movements along with quiet mindfulness. Like yoga, it can improve your balance, along with benefiting your mental health. It can also improve core strength and sleep quality. A video may be best for learning tai chi as it involves movement, although slow. It is suitable for people of all fitness levels.
Gentle Exercise for Seniors
Many gentle exercises are beneficial to seniors. Victoria Landing has great opportunities for our residents to exercise. We have a fitness center and also have Moving with MaryAnn every morning at 9:30 a.m., as mentioned previously. Our heated pool is ideal for aquatic aerobic exercise, which is easy on painful joints, and still an effective form of exercise. Simple stretching daily is good for you, so if that is all you are capable of currently, start there. We have lovely walking paths and are located near Eau Gallie Arts District (EGAD), which is a great place to walk, as well. We are sure that you can find a form of exercise that you enjoy whether by yourself or with your friends here at Victoria Landing.
Summary
Regular exercise is important for maintaining your physical and mental health, functional independence and social engagement. It can help with balance, strength, and sleep. Yoga is adaptable for different ability levels and is great for flexibility and balance. Tai chi uses slow deliberate movements to enhance balance and help with mindfulness. It is suitable for all fitness levels. Gentle exercises like water aerobics, walking, and stretching are all great ways to stay healthy.
Victoria Landing offers luxury retirement living, along with assisted living, and memory care on the shore of the Indian River right here in Melbourne, FL. With our fitness center, heated pool, walking paths, and group exercise class, Victoria Landing encourages and promotes healthy living for our residents so that they can maintain their independent living status for as long as possible. If you are interested in calling Victoria Landing home, then please schedule your tour today!
