Do you practice active living? If not, start TODAY!
No matter how old you are, active living is a big part of a healthy life. If you are a senior and don’t know where to start your fitness journey, we are here to tell you that you are in the right place.
It is important to find out what those activities are that you enjoy and that keep you moving and exploring. Once you retire, you might feel a little bit lost because your whole routine changes. You will have a lot of free time, and you might not know what to do with it.
Active living is a great way to start building a new routine while also keeping your mind and body in the best shape. The trick is to always have fun and not be afraid of exploring.
At first, try taking small steps and seeing what you like and don’t like. Try something new every month and stick with what works best for you. Read on and discover a few amazing exercises you can start your journey with!
1. Water aerobics and swimming
Every time you went on vacation, you were the one who loved the beach, and you were always in the water. Well, if this is the case, then you might start active living by going to the pool and swimming.
Aquatic sports are a great way to start your fitness routine, and they have a lot of amazing benefits. They stimulate the cardiovascular system, and since water is a medium that opposes resistance, you will also train your muscles. You will become stronger once you start swimming more and more.
If you find it boring to just swim laps around the pool, you might try something a little bit more exciting, and that is aqua aerobics. What is cool about water aerobics is that you get the full package of benefits that swimming has for you, along with all the benefits of group fitness.
When you are a senior, water aerobics is perfect when you choose active living because, since it takes place in the water, this activity is not hard on your joints. The resistance of water will let you gain strength, but in the end, all of this will happen without your joints getting affected.
2. Horseback riding
Maybe you’ve never done this before, and this is why horseback riding might be the perfect way to get into active living. If you also love animals, you can consider this a bonus because this is not a sport you are doing alone. You will have to team up with your horse and learn how to communicate with them.
Horseback riding is a great sport that will work up your entire body, from joints to muscles. What is even more awesome is that it is an activity that takes you outside and helps you connect with nature. Many times, you will actually forget that you are exercising because feeling that breeze as you ride will make you forget about it.
But there is one thing you should do before starting horseback riding. It is advised to check with a personal trainer and a doctor. You might need to do some hip exercises that will help you when you want to get on the back of the horse.
3. Yoga
If you want to get into active living, yoga can be the best start. It strengthens your body, and it clears your mind. These activities get well together, and it is also a great way to meet new people since yoga can be done in a group setting.
This activity is very good for seniors because it helps you maintain your mobility and balance. Also, if you are a lone wolf, you can do yoga alone in the comfort of your home or your garden.
Yoga is the best choice when you want to restart your life. So, if you are in your 50s or 60s, it might be a good idea to try doing this activity. You can start slowly with chair yoga. This means you can take the easy way and avoid the ground for your first sessions. After that, you can try more difficult asanas and get comfortable on your yoga mat.
Whatever you choose to do, remember that yoga is a great approach to active living and one that will help you restore your balance in no time.
4. Strength and weight training
Once you start getting old, it might sound scary when you think about weight training, strength training, or resistance training. All of these activities seem hard on your body, and you can feel like you are not able to do them.
But there is no need to be scared. You are not training to become the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. You are just trying to get into active living, and for that, you don’t need to force yourself too much. A few weights here and there should not affect anyone.
Doing a little bit of strength training can be extremely beneficial for seniors because it improves mood and reduces the risk of falling and injury while performing day-to-day activities. We can say that it helps with living, and it might be a good idea to start doing such exercises if you feel like you are able to.
You may also practice only with your own weight. Body weight is quite beneficial to the joints if you want to shed just a few pounds of weight. Using a range of weights in different workouts helps you make this phase of your active living journey more beneficial.
5. Hiking, running, and biking
Running is that exercise that, if you don’t love it, you surely hate. There is usually no in-between. And if you are one of those who love running, no matter your age, there is no need to stop.
You can continue running, and you will feel younger than you ever were. It is good for your heart, but it can damage your knees and joints. Hopefully, you can reduce the impact by running on a treadmill.
There are also other ways to be outside, take a fresh breath, and get into active living. Maybe hiking is more your cup of tea, and you can try it. It is like a walk, but in hard mode. You will burn more calories, and it will boost your mood and confidence.
Another good outdoor activity is biking. and this is also a great indoor activity since you can take a spin class. This is great cardio training, and it also helps with your mental health. And if you don’t like classes, you can purchase a recumbent bike and do all of this inside your home while watching Netflix or listening to your favorite music.
When you begin to practice sports and involve yourself in an active lifestyle, you need to keep yourself hydrated. This water bottle might come in handy next time you are running: Under Armour Sideline Squeeze Water Bottle, Designed with Quick-Shot Lid, Quick & Easy Hydration, 32 oz
You should also read: 6 Amazing Lifestyle Changes to Improve Vitamin D Levels
