As our bodies get older (wiser!), it can become increasingly difficult to work out and stay active like we once did in our younger years. It’s not always easy to get out and stay fit. But, just because it’s not as easy as it once was, doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.
At Unit Fitness Saddleworth we believe fitness is a lifelong journey that all of us must choose to embark on. Over time, that journey will evolve and look completely new. What was once intense gym sessions might become a much more calm and meditative process. But, in the end, fitness is still fitness. So, let’s talk about how senior adults can continue their path to a healthy lifestyle, no matter their circumstances.
Find Exercises That Ease The Mind
Exercising doesn’t need to be all about pumping iron and going as hard as you can. It can be a much more relaxing process if you choose the right exercises. If you find yourself feeling averse to the rigors of the gym, find exercises that are more calming and that can put you into a mindset where you look forward to it daily. These can include:
- Taking a daily walk on the treadmills for half an hour to an hour
- Going to beginner yoga classes
- Work with light dumbbells and resistance bands
- Ask a Personal Trainer (PT)
Find Exercise/Gym Partners
Getting out and staying active regularaly can be quite boring at times, even we can admit that. So it can be a chore to feel like you need to drag yourself out to work out when you don’t want to be by yourself for that long. That’s why it can help to find exercise and fitness friends to workout with!
Even if you just find a friend to go to The Unit with, you can still get the enjoyment of their company. Having a friend to take workout with, go to fitness classes with, etc,. Can help relieve the feelings of boredom or anxiety about working out. Plus, the conversation will make the time pass quicker!
Try To Work Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
You don’t always need to block out a set time for exercise at the gym. Oftentimes that can feel more daunting or tedious to do, even. If you get clever enough, you can actually find ways to work exercise into your daily routine without having to change much of anything about how you go about your daily errands or tasks.
Some good examples of daily exercises could be:
- Walking to the shop, instead of driving (so long as the distance is reasonable)
- Finding ways to walk in general, whether it be parking the car a bit further away
- Taking the stairs instead of the lift, if possible
- Doing chores around the house to get your body moving
These are just a few ways that you can work body movement and exercise into what you are already going to do that day. But, even if these don’t work for you, you can simply try to add in small 10 minute workouts during the day without needing to commit to 30 minutes to 1 hour. Even a daily 10-15 minute workout will do wonders for your long-term fitness!
Final Thoughts
Staying fit is much easier than getting fit once you’ve lost it. So, with that in mind, it’s crucial that we try to keep our bodies active rather than allow them to grow stagnant over time. This can be a trap that leads to deteriorating motivation to keep ourselves in a routine. Even as we get older, we can find ways to move around and get ourselves out of the house, or off the couch in order to get our blood flowing!
