No matter your age, maintaining an active lifestyle has many benefits. Studies show that senior citizens who exercise enjoy improved balance and reduced risk of numerous diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s — to name a few. The important thing is finding a form of exercise you love so that you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

The intensity level of your workout will depend more on your experience level than your age. If you’ve been relatively sedentary, you probably aren’t ready for cross-training classes just yet. Instead, you’ll want to start with the following low-impact activities, ideal for seniors just getting started with routine exercise:

Walking

Starting an exercise program can be as simple as going for a walk, and walking is great for your health. A well-known Harvard study found that walking just three days a week reduced the risk of heart attack by as much as 35 percent.

Another reason walking is particularly beneficial for seniors is that it helps prevent falls by improving balance. Since the weather is often either too hot or too cold to comfortably walk outdoors, many people of all ages prefer to join a gym where they can do their walking inside.

Balance and Strength Exercises

There are several simple exercises you can do routinely at home to improve your strength and balance. Here are a few examples of exercises you can do right now:

  • Marching in place
  • Standing on one foot while holding onto a chair
  • Wall push-ups
  • Shoulder rolls
  • Standing on your tiptoes

Exercise Classes Geared Toward Seniors

Although walking and simple balance exercises can be done anywhere, joining an exercise class for seniors is a great way to stay consistent with your exercise routine while still keeping things low impact.

Senior class offerings typically include aquatic exercise classes as well as “light” versions of popular fitness programs such as ZUMBA®. Some senior classes can even be done while sitting down, so there’s something for almost everybody.

Once you get used to a low-impact exercise routine, you might decide to step things up and add more intense classes to your schedule.

In addition to our “Senior Population” classes and several other exciting programs, we also offer kickboxing classes in Camden County. Call us today for more information about class availability at any of our locations across South Jersey.