Fitness Tips For Those In Their Senior Years

Just because you are getting older does not mean that you should just park it in a recliner and watch reruns. It is just as important, if not even more important to maintain your fitness as you grow older. There are many benefits to doing so, and don’t believe anyone who tells you that you should be slowing down. There are many seniors in great shape, who live active lifestyles. This article will give you some great tips to help you stay fit well into your golden years.

So why is it so important to maintain your fitness as you age? There are many great reasons why it is important to stay fit, and one of the most important is to keep yourself healthy. Regular exercise helps to keep up your body’s immune system, and your entire body will benefit from the increased circulation.

Exercise keeps your muscles strong and limber. You are less likely to sustain an injury when your body is in good physical condition. If you do happen to injure yourself, all your exercising will help you to heal faster than if you lived a very sedentary lifestyle. Regular exercise can also help to fight arthritis and other ailments that come with age.

There is a stigma that older people should “take it easy” so they do not overexert themselves. Of course it is always important to check with your physician to make sure that you are healthy enough to take part in exercise. Try to do exercises that you are comfortable with. For a low impact workout you can walk, swim or ride a bicycle. This might be a little too slow of a pace for some seniors who might enjoy activities like running, hiking and contact sports. Just because your age is increasing, does not mean that your physical activity has to begin decreasing. There are people who are in their hundreds who play tennis, ski and skydive so don’t let stereotypes hold you back.

Whether you are doing a low impact workout or a high intensity activity, it is important to warm up and cool down, especially when you are older. Warming up by stretching and doing calisthenics helps to get your blood pumping and your muscles warmed up. This helps to prevent you from injuring yourself while exercising. Just as important as it is to warm up, it is just as crucial that you cool down. Cooling down happens after your workout, and is a time for you to stretch out your muscles. This will help you from cramping up later, which can be painful.

It is a common misconception that people need to start slowing down as they get older. The truth is, that you can live a very active life well into your golden years. Of course there are a couple more precautions that you should take, but there is no reason you can not run a marathon in your 70’s. Apply the fitness tips from this article to help keep yourself healthy and active throughout all your live long days.