Easy Low-Impact Exercises for Seniors
Regular exercise is an essential part of any lifestyle, but as you age it’s important to stay active in ways that support healthy aging. For older adults, low-impact exercises are easier on your joints, support cardiovascular health, improve balance, and provide many benefits for your mental well-being as well. Discover some low-impact exercises for seniors that can have wonderful results on your fitness, and all the ways Porters Neck Village in Wilmington, NC, can help you stay active.
Body Movement
You don’t need heart-raising, fast-paced exercise to improve your health. Movement exercises are an excellent fitness choice that significantly improves balance and flexibility. Yoga is a great slow movement workout, using stretches, poses, and breathing exercises to promote relaxation and relieve joint pain. Tai chi is another option, combining deep breathing with flowing movements to improve core strength and ease back pain. Focusing on strengthening certain muscles and areas of the body with movement workouts, such as leg exercises, can also promote health and physical mobility.
Cardio
Walking is an easy way to increase daily physical activity. Older adults should aim to walk 6,000 – 8,000 steps daily. Walking regularly supports cardiovascular health, mental well-being, sleep quality, and cognitive function. At Porters Neck Village, our active community boasts a 3-mile, picturesque walking trail, so you can easily get your steps in and enjoy your walk. Walking outdoors offers the benefits of fresh air and vitamin D, but indoor options like walking on a treadmill or elliptical machine are good alternatives during colder weather.
If you wish to add a manageable amount of high intensity exercise to your walking workout, Japanese walking is a great option! This exercise involves walking at a casual, low intensity pace for 3 minutes, and then at a faster, brisker pace (fast enough that it would be difficult to keep up with a conversation) for another 3 minutes, and repeating this cycle for 30 minutes. Japanese walking, also known as Interval Walking Training, burns more calories than steady walking and is a great way to boost cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and strengthen your lower body.
Cycling is another great, low-impact exercise that keeps your body engaged, improves balance, posture, and cardiovascular health while being easy on your joints. Residents at Porters Neck Village enjoy access to paved paths and peaceful park trails. To further support your body while biking, wearing a helmet, padding, ankle or knee braces can protect you from injury. In the case of inclement weather, cycling on a stationary bike is also a great choice for low-impact exercise.
Pool Exercises
Swimming is a fun and healthy exercise option for every age, but holds specific benefits for older adults. The buoyancy of the water supports joints, soothes pain, and the resistance builds muscle strength. There are many different aquatic activities to enjoy, such as water walking, using a kickboard for resistance exercises, water aerobics, or simply swimming laps. At Porters Neck Village, we bring the ocean to you with our indoor saltwater pool, available for free swimming and guided swim classes.
Active Aging at Porters Neck Village
While working out with low-impact exercises, it’s still important to pace yourself and listen to your body. When trying a new exercise, start off slow, be sure to stay hydrated, and rest afterwards if you experience soreness or fatigue. At our Wellness Center, residents have access to an extensive fitness program, state-of-the-art facilities, and an array of outdoor recreation in our vibrant natural setting of Wilmington, NC. Our group fitness classes and amenities are sure to help you be social, stay safe, and have an invigorating workout. Contact us today to schedule a tour and discover how Porters Neck Village makes exercise engaging and easy.
