Why is Exercise Important for Seniors?

Physical activity is undoubtedly good for you – a fact that has probably followed you throughout all stages of your life. From grade school gym class to your doctor encouraging regular exercise at your annual physical, physical activity is necessary for your health and well-being.

Research shows that regular physical activity contributes to a longer life expectancy and an overall higher quality of life. Healthy aging requires that you live an active lifestyle to reap the benefits of exercise.

5 Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

Increasing your physical activity or maintaining your already vigorous exercise routine offers the following benefits:

1. Longer Independence. Regular exercise can improve your strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. These improvements can lower your risk of falling and injuring yourself, which can help you maintain your independence for longer.
2. Boosts in Your Mood. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals in your brain to help you ward off feelings of depression and anxiety. Actively reducing these symptoms can boost your mood, improve your mental health and promote greater life satisfaction.
3. Improved Bone and Muscle Health. Exercise can help you maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. Stronger muscles and bones reduce your risk of falls and improves your ability to perform daily routine tasks.
4. Lowered Risk of Illnesses. Regular exercise can decrease your likelihood of suffering from high blood pressure and reduce your risk of colon cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Making exercise one of your top priorities can also help control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
5. Increased Social Engagement. Exercise is a great opportunity to take part in social activity. Whether you go for a walk every day with your neighbor or join a virtual exercise with a friend, exercise can increase your socialization. Maintaining strong social relationships is crucial for warding off feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression.

Exercise Tips for Seniors

The key to making exercise a normal part of your weekly routine is finding something you enjoy doing. After all, finding a physical activity that excites you can motivate you to stick with it each day or week. Here are some exercise tips to follow if you’re new to working out:

• Start out slow and don’t rush into a high intensity workout that could result in injury
• Try to exercise daily, even if just for a few minutes to keep yourself active
• Don’t forget to stretch before you exercise to help improve flexibility and movement

Stay Healthy with the Virtual Neighborhood Program from Episcopal SeniorLife Communities

Episcopal SeniorLife Communities understands the importance for seniors to adopt healthy exercise routines. This is why we offer our Virtual Neighborhood Program, which provides our residents and members with exercise, fun and friendships. Our Neighborhood Program offers the resources you need to live a healthy lifestyle through nutrition education, strength training, informative presentations and a variety of other senior activities.

Our programs are designed to bring you into a social network where you can enhance your overall lifestyle and improve your physical strength, balance and endurance. We are now offering a schedule of virtual program options to help residents and members remain active from the safety of their own home.

Are you ready to learn more about how Episcopal SeniorLife Communities can help you live an active and fulfilling lifestyle? Contact us today to learn more about our senior living options and wellness programs.