5 Exercises To Stay Healthy Into Old Age

Staying active is a vital part of keeping healthy and well. As we age, our body goes through various biological changes and one of the most significant is the decrease and loss of muscle mass. When muscle mass is reduced, it leads to weight gain. This is why strength training is encouraged especially as we age.

Exercise has many positive benefits on your health and wellbeing, but if going to the gym seems offputting then you need to look at why. What exercises do you enjoy that you can do every day to improve your state of health and wellness? Take your pick from the list below…

1. Walking

Walking is a simple exercise with many health benefits. This gentle low-impact exercise can help to strengthen the heart, lower the risk of disease and even help you to lose weight.

Free and available to everyone, walking is an activity that everyone can include in their daily routine. Boost your energy levels, get more Vitamin D and tone up your bum, legs, tum and thighs.

The Stroke Association says that a brisk 30-minute walk every day can even help to prevent and control the high blood pressure that causes strokes, reducing the risk by up to 27 percent. More good reasons to put on your walking shoes!

2. Cycling

Cycling can protect the body against serious diseases such as stroke, heart attacks, cancer, depression, diabetes and even arthritis and obesity. Cycling is a healthy, fun and low-impact exercise that is suitable for all ages.

Cycling is great for strength and stamina and can be a time-efficient mode of transport to move around while getting healthy.

Cycling to work can also replace sedentary time spent sitting down in a car, or on the bus or train.

3. Swimming

Swimming is an excellent exercise for muscle strength, building endurance and improving cardiovascular fitness.

A gentle low impact exercise, swimming is ideal for people of all ages. Swimming has both physical and mental benefits for your wellbeing.

Anyone looking for a full body workout should consider swimming as nearly all of the muscles are used during swimming. It can also keep your heart rate up while taking some of the impact of stress off the body.

4. Rebounding

Rebounding on a mini trampoline is one of the best exercises for improving health. Rebounding provides an excellent boost for lymphatic drainage and immune function. It’s twice as effective as running without placing extra stress on the knees and ankles.

Rebounding is an excellent exercise for increasing endurance on a cellular level by stimulating mitochondria production (responsible for cell energy), while improving the effects of other forms of exercise.

5. Yoga

Yoga is a gentle series of exercises that can help to improve flexibility, while building muscle strength and better posture.

Draining the lymph and boosting immunity are two other important factors that yoga can bring to boost the health of your body.

Anyone who wants to stay lean and supple should consider yoga. From headstands to downward dog, triangle to savasana, the beauty of yoga is that it’s adaptable for all fitness levels – from beginner to advanced, there is something to suit everyone.

Studies show that the benefits of yoga don’t just impact on the physical, they can also benefit one’s emotional and mental health too.

Exercise has many amazing benefits for health. Yet if you can’t move as easily as you’d like or experience limited mobility, there are other options available such as isometric exercises that can help to maintain muscle strength. Another option is to do daily chair exercises (ideal if you have a lower body injury or disability). It’s worth asking your doctor or physical therapist to discover what works best for you.

Whatever your fitness level or current state of health, movement can greatly improve your overall sense of wellbeing and for this reason alone, is a vital activity to perform on a daily basis. Do you have a favourite activity to get you moving? Let us know in the comments below.