Exercise is something you should keep on doing as you get older for its many rewards. Among them: Exercising helps thwart some chronic diseases and cancers while helping you stay active and independent longer.
While it's great to exercise outdoors, there may be days when the weather's gloomy or you prefer to stay indoors. That's when you might want to give these ideas a try:
Take some laps indoors. Walking is aerobic exercise, the type that improves stamina, heart health and more. If you have access to a treadmill, take a walk while watching TV.
Boost your balance one leg at a time. Balance training may help you avoid falls, which are more common among seniors. Standing and lifting each leg for 10 seconds at a time is a simple balance exercise.
Pro tip: If you feel unsteady while standing on one foot, hold on to the back of a sturdy chair or the edge of a counter.
Strike a pose. Age and diseases, like arthritis, can make joints and muscles less limber. Stretching exercises, like yoga, can improve flexibility.
Pro tip: Check out local, in-person yoga classes or online videos to get started.
Join the resistance. Resistance bands are stretchy, elastic bands you can use for strength training instead of free weights.
Pro tip: Resistance bands come in different resistance levels. Having several bands of different levels allows you to build your strength over time.
Lift your own body weight. Body-weight exercises use your own body weight as resistance, building strength that helps you perform everyday tasks. Think pushups, planks or squats. If you're just starting out, you may want to try chair squats. While standing with your back to a chair, bend your knees and lower your body into the chair. Now push your body back up to a standing position.
Pro tip: Do strength exercises—like body-weight exercises or lifting weights—at least twice per week.
Pull up a chair. If you have limited mobility, consider doing different types of exercises in a chair. For example, you might try stretches, chair yoga or tai chi, and lifting hand weights.
Consult your Watson Clinic
Family Medicine or
Internal Medicine specialist for additional easy and effective exercise ideas. Call 863-680-7190 to schedule an appointment.