Your Workout Lowdown
We regularly hear that exercise is key to good health, but what does this mean for seniors? Does exercise continue to benefit us as we age, and is it helpful for those who have been less active in their past?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports: “Inactivity increases with age. By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity.” Exercise gets a bad reputation as being drudgery, but a lot of exercise is fun, stress reducing and energizing. Talk with your 
doctor about adopting an exercise routine that suits your needs. A regular exercise routine can make you feel better and stronger, both physically and emotionally.
Even if you have not been active earlier in life, the CDC still advises working with your doctor to explore a simple, regular routine that is a good fit for you. The CDC advises: “Previously sedentary older adults who begin physical activity programs should start with short intervals of moderate physical activity (5-10 minutes) and gradually build up to the desired amount.”
Here's how exercise can help make you healthier and happier.
Heart happy
Your heart loves to get a workout, as long as your doctor has signed off on the regimen as safe for you, especially if you have a history of heart issues. Exercise doesn’t need to be intense or strenuous. The CDC explains: “Older adults can obtain significant health benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. A moderate amount of activity can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense activities (such as walking) or in shorter sessions of more vigorous activities (such as fast walking or stair walking).”
This level of activity gets your heart pumping. The CDC points out that it can help lower your blood pressure, which is especially important for those with hypertension.
Mental fitness
Exercise is a natural way to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. It causes your body to release endorphins which make you feel a sense of happiness and well-being. Just as exercise makes your body strong, it also makes your mind strong. Plus, it gives you an outlet for when things are not going your way.
When you’re feeling stressed, sad or lonely, you may feel like just sitting on your comfy chair and hiding out until the bad feelings subside. Going for a walk in the park may feel like the last thing you want to do. But getting up and taking that walk can help melt that stress away, even if you have to push yourself to do it. Training yourself to pursue a healthy outlet for anxiety, sadness or stress is a positive way to handle the emotional issues that life brings.
Helping your body become more resistant to accidents
Exercising gives you a regular chance to build balance, muscle and stamina. This can help keep you safer when it comes to falls and trips, because your body is strong, flexible and agile. The CDC points out that regular exercise helps the joints, muscles and bones; it even “Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.”
The CDC further notes that regular exercise can help seniors “to live independently and can reduce their risk of falling and fracturing bones.”
Remember
Incorporating daily exercise into your life benefits your physical and emotional health. It’s never too late to adopt a routine that serves you. While you always want to ask your doctor about any new exercise regimen you adopt, don’t hesitate to start working towards your goal. Exercise is a simple way to achieve joy and wellness.