A Healthy Body: Indoor Exercise for Seniors

No matter what stage of life you’re in, exercise is an important aspect of your health. Mobility can become an issue as we get older, and one way to keep our bodies moving is through frequent physical exercise. However, with colder weather here to stay for a while, getting outside has become more difficult. That’s why Crestwood Manor created the following list of exercises for healthy aging that you can do from the warmth of the indoors.

6 Easy Senior Exercises at Home

• Walking. You don’t have to go outside in the freezing cold to enjoy the benefits of walking. Simply put on your favorite music and walk a few laps around your home. You can even pump your arms and lift your knees toward your chest for additional benefits.
• Aerobics with videos. Aerobic exercise promotes a healthy cardiovascular system, making it a crucial part of healthy aging. Thanks to the advancements in technology, you don’t have to travel to a gym or wellness center to participate in aerobics. You can borrow exercise DVDs from your local library or seek out your favorite instructors on YouTube. If you don’t have internet access or can’t find something you enjoy, simple exercises such as jumping jacks and running in place can be done in short intervals anywhere in your home you prefer.
• Weight training. An important part of healthy aging is to keep your muscles strong and maintain bone density. That’s where weight training comes in. Simple exercises like lifting small hand-weights during arm raises or doing modified push-ups can help with muscle mass growth and keep your bones healthy.
• Core exercises. Keeping your core strong through exercise can help lower your risk of falling and getting injured by building balance and stability. Core exercises can be as simple as doing a few sets of sit-ups every day. If you’re ready to try something more advanced, do daily sets of squats, lunges or modified planks.
• Yoga and tai chi. Loss of flexibility is something that comes with age, making mobility more difficult. Activities like yoga and tai chi can help you maintain or gain flexibility, keeping you loose and limber. If you already have limited mobility, modified chair yoga is a great option and is even offered in some senior living communities.

Discover Healthy Aging at Crestwood Manor

Crestwood Manor understands the importance of overall wellbeing in your later years, so we’ve developed the LivWell approach. This comprehensive, award-winning program is much more than a handful of activities in a recreational room —it’s a holistic approach to your wellbeing through seven different aspects, including your physical wellness. Crestwood Manor offers a variety of fitness options including chair yoga classes, a senior fitness center and an indoor, heated swimming pool. Whether you prefer exercises classes that include socialization, or you want to get your heart pumping on your own, we have something for everyone to enjoy.

If you’d like to learn more about how Crestwood Manor can help you live a vibrant life in your golden years, contact our team today.