Exercise routines are essential for people of all ages, but the need for physical activity intensifies as we age, especially for senior adults. Though exercising requires a different approach for seniors, sticking with an active lifestyle is very valuable, and no one cannot overlook its many health benefits.
There are numerous benefits that seniors can get from an active lifestyle, ranging from avoiding injuries to their mental health. Here are some of these reasons why seniors should work hard to maintain their exercise habits.
1. Staying Active Promotes Restful Sleep
If you have a sedentary lifestyle, it can be difficult to get quality rest. However, maintaining activity can help in sleeping soundly and deeply each night. For starters, squeezing in aerobic exercise to your routine raises your core body temperature, which, in turn, encourages rest as you cool down.
Seniors can consider working out a few hours before bed for a restful and refreshing sleep. Walking before dinner or bedtime helps the structure of the body.
2. Strength Exercises Prevent Falls and Injuries
Falls are serious injuries at any point in life, but the injuries are exponentially magnified for senior adults. Seniors will always be at risk of injury, but even more, their bones are more delicate because strength and density are lower.
Maintaining an active lifestyle will ensure that you can keep your balance, build muscle strength, and improve bone health. You don’t have to find intense workouts; even simple, low-impact exercises are beneficial in the long run.
3. Regular Exercise Helps in Managing Body Weight
Metabolism naturally slows down as people age, so it is vital that time for exercise also increases as we get older. After all, exercise will always be the best way to lose weight. Adding low-impact cardio and strength training workouts helps in developing muscle mass, which, in turn, would burn down extra calories and help in promoting healthy weight loss.
4. Being Active Promotes Cardiovascular Health
Heart disease is a silent killer, and it is one of the leading causes of death all over the world. Though the disease sneaks in, having frequent physical activity helps in reducing the risk of heart disease and improves the strength of the entire cardiovascular system.
Cardio-focused exercises are perfect for an added boost of energy that aids your heart health. Of course, this is not a cure for hereditary heart conditions and underlying heart illnesses, but you cannot deny its positive effects toward a higher quality of life.
5. Exercise Helps Maintain Mental Health
Living an active lifestyle provides mental health benefits like boosting the mood, reducing stress levels, and fighting anxiety or depression.
6. Fitness Improves the Overall Health of Seniors
Overall, a solid fitness routine protects the health of seniors and improves the quality of their lives. Individuals who exercise regularly have a reduced risk of getting a chronic illness, develop robust immune systems, and maintain functioning digestive systems.
Conclusion
With these benefits, it is undeniable that senior adults can enjoy a different quality of life when staying active even in their old age. If you are a family member, a carer, or a senior yourself, you must find ways to squeeze in some form of exercise each day.
If you are looking for a health and wellness coach to help seniors establish an exercise routine, Hello Meg Parker can help you. Meg Parker is an intentional health coach with experience as a skilled massage therapist and a holistic health coach for personal mind and body fitness training. Schedule a discovery call to learn more!
