Happy March to all our caregivers, co-workers, referral sources, and finally our clients whom we consider family! I decided to start March out with some easy but fun exercises that we can do in our home.

Did you know seniors who stay active and do very simple exercises such as walking can greatly improve their health? It’s hard to know where to start with exercising but you must start with something low-impact and easy. You can always work up to more difficult exercises if you feel comfortable. Here are some fantastic and easy ways www.seniorlifestyle.com recommends to begin to ease your way into exercising! Always remember to consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen.

 

1. Water aerobics

In the past years, water aerobics have become an extremely popular form of exercise among all ages, but in particular to seniors. Exercising in the water is ideal for those living with arthritis and other forms of joint pain, as the buoyancy of the water puts less stress on your joints. Additionally, water brings natural resistance, which eliminates the need for weights in strength training. Water aerobics exercises improve your strength, flexibility, and balance with minimal stress on your body.

Great water aerobics exercises for seniors include:

• Aqua jogging
• Flutter kicking
• Leg lifts
• Standing water push-ups
• Arm curls

 

2. Chair Yoga

Like water aerobics, chair yoga is a low-impact form of exercise that improves muscle strength, mobility, balance, and flexibility, all of which are crucial health aspects for seniors. Chair yoga is an accessible form of yoga that provides less stress on muscles, joints, and bones than more conventional forms of yoga.
As a bonus, chair yoga has been shown to improve mental health in older adults. Regular chair yoga participants have better quality sleep, lower instances of depression, and report a general sense of well-being.

Great chair yoga exercises for seniors include:

• Overhead stretch
• Seated cow stretch
• Seated cat stretch
• Seated mountain pose
• Seated twist

 

3. Resistance band workouts

Resistance bands are stretchy strips of rubber that add resistance to workouts with reduced stress on your body. Resistance band workouts are user-friendly and accessible for beginners. This form of exercise is growing more popular among seniors because of the relatively cheap up-front costs of materials, which makes resistance band workouts ideal for at-home exercise. Additionally, these exercises are ideal for strengthening your core, which improves posture, mobility, and balance.

Resistance band workouts for seniors include:

• Leg press
• Triceps press
• Lateral raise
• Bicep curl
• Band pull apart

 

4. Pilates

Pilates is a popular low-impact form of exercise that was developed a century ago. In Pilates exercises, breathing, alignment, concentration, and core strength are emphasized, and typically involves mats, Pilates balls, and other inflated accessories to help build strength without the stress of higher-impact exercises. Pilates has been shown to improve balance, develop core strength, and increase flexibility in older adults.

Some great Pilates exercises for older adults include:

• Mermaid movement
• Side circles
• Food slides
• Step-ups
• Leg circle