Are you getting enough exercise? Regular exercise is important to our health, but in the winter, exercising can be a challenge, especially for senior citizens. In fact, when it’s cold and wet out, the dangers of slippery sidewalks and icy parking lots can be more hazardous for seniors than exercise is beneficial. What can you do to stay active when weather conditions don’t permit you to take a walk or participate in your regular outdoor activities? We have some suggestions to help keep you active all winter long.
- Join a gym. You don’t have to be an athlete to join a gym, because most gyms offer classes for people of all different ages, physical abilities, and fitness goals. The social element of gyms can be an incentive to go, and the fact that you can exercise and stay warm at the same time is a benefit. You can even swim in the middle of winter at some gyms. Parkwood Heights offers a fitness room for you to be able to excersise without going outside. Just make sure you speak to your doctor before starting any fitness program, to make sure it’s right for you.
- Take a class in your community. The gym is not the only place where social interaction meets opportunities for physical fitness. Parkwood Heights offers excercise classes that help our residents stay healthy.
- Try an in-home workout. Sometimes, it’s safer to exercise at home. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring, though, because workouts at home can be varied and fun. Try a workout video, or some chair exercises, which are particularly good if you face mobility challenges.
- Check out Go4Life®. The Natural Institute of Aging (NIA) has created an online resource designed to help seniors stay healthy. There’s plenty of information, and a variety of free tools, including fitness guides and workout videos, and you can track your progress as you go.
- Participate in a new, gentle activity. For older adults, Tai Chi and yoga can be extremely beneficial. Each of these forms of exercise help build core strength and develop better breathing habits, and both can be done in your own home when the weather is bad.
- Build up your strength. You may not think much about muscle mass, but strength training is important because strong muscles protect your core strength. This helps with your stamina, balance, and flexibility. Talk to your doctor before starting, and consider downloading Growing Stronger: Strength Training for Older Adults, a helpful free guide that will help you set goals and track your progress.
- Modify your activities. It’s not necessary to completely avoid the outdoors in winter. If you love to walk outdoors, you can bundle up in warm layers and stick to safe paths, clear of ice and snow. It’s much easier to stick to exercising if you’re enjoying yourself, so find ways to adjust your favorite activities so that you can keep on doing them, even when the weather is bad.
Parkwood Heights is a great place to live your best life. Parkwood Heights is a lovely community in which to spend your retirement participating in interesting activities or just relaxing, located just minutes from Victor, Fairport, Farmington, and Canandaigua. A picturesque, 122-acre senior living campus, it’s a great place to enjoy your time with friends and family. Call (315) 986-9100 to learn more about all that we have to offer, or check out our website and reach out if you have any questions.
