With everything going on in our daily lives – school, work, family time – finding time to properly care for our own well-being sometimes falls to the wayside. Where we once had time for an evening jog, now we focus on taking care of the kids. Unfortunately, as we age it becomes increasingly difficult to keep our bodies healthy; aches and pains that used to fade now stubbornly cling to our bones. Luckily for seniors, there are a few ways to stay active and reap the benefits of exercise.
Benefits of Exercise for Seniors
There are a multitude of health benefits to saying active. Regular exercise can prevent, delay, and even treat certain illnesses and diseases, including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Other physical benefits are improved balance and lower blood pressure.
Beyond the physical benefits, there are also mental benefits to exercise. Daily exercise has been linked with improved mood, lower stress levels, and even boosts to cognitive function. It is important to seniors to feel like they can stay active and maintain their independence, and exercise helps them build up both the mental and physical fortitude they need to hold a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Mall Walking
Mall walking is a great way for seniors to get active in a safe environment. Malls provide a smooth, comfortable surface to walk on in a climate controlled setting. Additionally, seniors have access to a plethora of useful amenities, such as water fountains, restrooms, food, benches for resting, and most importantly medical assistance. Should an accident occur, security guards or other mall staff will be able to call for medical assistance immediately.
Senior Fitness Classes
Seniors can enroll in specially designed Senior Fitness Classes. Programmed specifically for individuals ages 65 and older, classes focus on improving the general health and physicality through:
- Educating participants to make healthy lifestyle choices
- Working on
- Balance
- Strength
- Mobility
- Flexibility
- Improving bone density
- Individualized programming
- And much more…
Put Your Health First
No matter how you choose to be active, the myriad benefits of daily exercise are too important to pass up. This is significantly more true as we get older – health issues begin to crop up more frequently and with more severity. Get a head start on improving your health today; the Center for Athletic Performance and Physical Therapy offers Senior Fitness Classes, call them at (480) 585-6810 for more information.
