Healthy Living All Year Long: Senior Exercises at Home

Exercise is important for your health, no matter your age. As we continue to get older, mobility can become an issue, and one way to prevent that is through regular physical exercise. With colder weather here and only growing colder, it will become more and more difficult to get outside and enjoy the health perks of being out and about. That’s why we at The Moorings at Lewes created this list of exercises seniors can do from the comfort of their own home for healthy aging.

6 Indoor Ways to Get Exercise for Seniors

1. Aerobics. Aerobic exercise is a critical part of healthy aging as it promotes cardiovascular health. Thankfully, you don’t need to travel all the way to a gym to get your heart pumping. There are plenty of exercise DVDs available at your local library, and YouTube has an abundance of exercise videos from your favorite instructors. If you don’t have consistent access to the internet or a library, classic aerobic exercises like jumping jacks and running in place can be done in 5-minute intervals.
2. Walking. If you thought you had to go outside to go walking, think again! Just turn on some of your favorite music and take laps through your home. For some added benefits, lift your knees toward your chest and pump your arms as you walk.
3. Weight training. Weight training can aid in muscle mass growth and bone density maintenance, two things that help prevent senior falls. These exercises can be as simple as lifting 2 lb. weights during arm raises or modified push-ups.
4. Lower body exercises. According to research, strength training exercises like squats “have the ability to combat weakness and frailty and debilitating consequences.” And if you don’t feel comfortable doing squats in a free-standing position, grab a chair and hold onto the back. Bend your knees until you’re in a seated position, and then stand back up slowly.
5. Core exercises. A strong core means better balance and stability, lowering your risk for injury as you age. Simple exercises like sit ups are a great choice to help you build your core muscles. Just lay down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Then place your hands behind your head and try to gently lift your upper body using your stomach muscles.
6. Yoga or Tai Chi. As you continue to age, your joints tend to lose flexibility, making it more and more difficult to stay mobile. If you want to stay loose and limber, try doing yoga or tai chi. Chair yoga is also a great option for those who already have limited mobility.

Experience Healthy Aging with Springpoint

At The Moorings at Lewes, we understand the importance of wellbeing during your golden years, which is why we’ve developed LivWell, our comprehensive, award-winning program. LivWell is much more than an activity room on the campus — it’s a holistic approach to wellness which includes your physical wellbeing. The Moorings at Lewes offer energetic classes like aquatic aerobics, tai chi and balance classes if you like to exercise in groups. But if you prefer to get your heart rate up on your own, our fully equipped fitness center is available all year long.

Contact our team today to learn more about how The Moorings at Lewes can help you continue to live a vibrant lifestyle.