Movement is an important part of any stage of our lives – especially as we age. Did you know that people over 65 who regularly exercise are healthier and less likely to develop serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis?
We know that as you grow older, it’s easy to become less active which isn’t good for your physical or mental health. This is why it’s important we find different forms of movement we enjoy to keep us moving and stay active.
We’ve listed below different some different activities (all suited to a range of different activity levels) that focus on increasing strength, balance and flexibility to help make you stronger and feel more confident on your feet.
- Walking – one of the most underrated low-impact and free exercises that can be incorporated into daily routines. A heart-healthy form of movement that strengthens muscles and increases flexibility.
- Swimming – another great low-impact form of exercise that doesn’t put excessive stress on joints.
- Pilates – this is a combination of physical movement, breathing techniques and mental focus so you can start feeling zen.
- Seated exercises – if you have limited mobility or stability, chair exercises are a safe and effective way to stay active from the comfort of your own home. Check out one of our specialist instructors, Phil, demonstrating a range of seated exercises you can follow here.
- New age Bowls – a social and gentle sport that is suitable for all levels of fitness. In a game of bowls, players roll biased balls (bowls) on a grassy or synthetic surface with the aim of getting them as close as possible to a smaller target ball called the jack. Many bowls clubs across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough put on regular social functions where you can meet new people whilst getting active.
As well as dedicating a small portion of your day to movement, some more easy ways you can reduce being sedentary is:
- Swapping a short car or bus journey for walking
- If you drive, parking further away from your destination
- Taking regular walk breaks around the garden or sheet
- Stand up whilst watching TV and walk around your living room whilst ad breaks are on
It’s so important to keep up with your physical activity as you get older for so many reasons. Being older and possibly becoming frail puts you at an increased risk of falling. Moving more can help to lower this falls risk as it improves your strength, balance and co-ordination.
If you or you know somebody who is at risk of falls, Healthy You offer a FREE Falls Prevention programme delivered by specialist qualified instructors. To read more about the programme and hear some of our previous users case studies, please click here.
If you think you could benefit from some support to increase your movement, Healthy You offer a FREE Health Trainer service where you can work with one of our Health Trainers to set realistic, health-related goals where you will be provided with consistent support and advice so you can reach your health goals. To find out more about our Health Trainer service or to sign-up, please contact 0333 005 0093 or complete the sign-up form here.