Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Why Is It Important To Stay Active As A Senior?

Senior Tips for Staying Active

Bonaventure Senior Living believes it is essential for all seniors to stay active, not only to keep your body healthy but also to keep your mind healthy as well.  Often, it is easy to get into a routine of a sedentary lifestyle, especially if you have recently retired, but this can put your health at risk. Fortunately, there are many ways for seniors to be active, healthy, and happy.

Senior Tips for Staying Active

One of Bonaventure Senior Living's best tips for seniors who want to stay active is that it is important to find something to do that you will enjoy. If you look upon exercise or physical activities as a hobby, rather than a chore, you will enjoy the activities more and be more apt to incorporate them into a regular routine.

Bird watching, taking a nature hike, dancing, biking, or mall walking can all provide you with not only entertainment, but with mild exercise as well.  You can also take up photography and check out different locales for inspiration or check into free or low-cost exercise classes for seniors.  If money is tight, you can check out exercise videos at your local library, split the cost of a video with a friend or just take a walk around. Listening to music or watching television while exercising can also make the process more fun. 

Activities for Those With Limited Mobility

If you have limited mobility, Bonaventure Senior Living believes you can still be active.  Water recreation is often the best option for seniors who have problems with mobility.  Swimming and water aerobics both provide great options for those who have sore or stiff joints or other mobility problems because the water can lessen the stress on your body. 

If you cannot walk, you may also want to check out PBS for exercise programs like “Sit and Be Fit”.  There are video options as well featuring exercise videos that can be done by those who aren't mobile.

Stretching

Stretching is important to staying active and supple.  Whenever you have been sitting for a while, Bonaventure Senior Living recommends you get up for a few moments to stretch.  You can stretch while on the computer or while watching television.  You can even stretch while talking on the phone.  Do neck rolls, point and flex your toes, or take a Pilate or yoga class.

Finding A Friend

Bonaventure Senior Living

Bonaventure_senior_living_active
believes that one of the best ways to make sure you stay active as a senior is to find a friend to share in your exercise routine.  Friends will encourage each other so you won’t miss a session and chatting with friends will help the time pass while you are exercising.  Even if you are just mall walking and window-shopping, having a friend along will help the time pass quicker and the exercise will be more fun.

Final Tips

While all of the above tips are helpful for seniors looking to stay active, Bonaventure Senior Living has a few final tips for those who want to maintain the health of their mind and bodies:

•    Eating healthy and staying positive is also essential to staying active. 
•    Find things to do that make you happy so you will continue to do them.  When you are happy, it is impossible to be stressed out and you will feel better.
•    It takes 30 days to form a habit. Once you start an exercise routine, keep it up for at least a month and you'll find that it becomes a natural part of your routine.

Finally, remember that exercise does not have to mean going to a gym, playing strenuous sports, or jogging.  Exercise can be part of your daily activities like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  When you shop, you may want to park farther away, since walking is very good exercise, and go down all the aisles inside the store.  Even if you just get out of the house and drive to the library, you are moving and doing something rather than sitting at home.