Exercise and physical activity are best for almost everyone, including older adults. No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. In fact, studies show that “taking it easy” is risky. Often, inactivity is more to blame than age when seniors lose the ability to do things on their own. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, plus more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.
Including all types of exercise can benefit an array of areas of your life. Staying active will help you:
- Keep and improve your strength which means you can stay independent
- Have more energy to do the things you want to do and reduce fatigue
- Improve your balance and lower threat of falls and injuries from comes
- Manage and prevent some diseases like arthritis, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and 8 types of cancer, including breast and cancer of the colon
- Sleep better at home
- Reduce levels of stress and anxiety
- Reach or maintain a healthy weight and reduce threat of excessive weight gain
- Control your blood pressure
- Possibly improve or maintain some aspects of cognitive function, such as your ability to shift quickly between tasks or plan an activity
- Perk up your mood and reduce feelings of depression
Emotional benefits associated with exercise
Research has shown that exercise is not only best for your physical health, it also supports emotional and mental health. You could exercise with a pal and have the added benefit of emotional support. So, next time you’re feeling down, anxious, or stressed, make an effort to stand up and start moving! To find out more, visit Fitness 19 prices
Physical activity can help:
- Reduce feelings of depression and stress, while bettering your mood and overall emotional well-being
- Increase your energy level
- Improve sleep
- Empower you to feel more in control
In addition, exercise and physical activity may possibly improve or maintain some areas of cognitive function, such as your ability to shift quickly between tasks, plan an activity, and ignore irrelevant information.
- Here are some exercise suggestions to help you lift your mood:
- Walking, bicycling, or dancing. Endurance activities increase your breathing, ensure you get your heart pumping, and boost chemicals in your body that may improve mood.
- This mind and body practice typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation.
- Tai Chi. This “moving meditation” involves shifting the body slowly, gently, and precisely, while breathing deeply.
- Activities you enjoy. Whether it’s gardening, playing tennis, kicking around a soccer ball with your grandchildren, or another thing, choose a task you want to do, not one you have to do.
