For all you who are still young at heart, but are starting to feel the weight of the years taking its toll on your body, it’s high time you discovered the benefits of moderate physical activities and start the healthy lifestyle. As the time goes by, the lack of physical activity may result in loss of energy, obesity, poor health as well as bad mood and memory. Especially for the adults over 60, a regular 150-minute exercise routine is important to improve their well-being and state of mind. There are many health benefits of these simple yet effective activities.
What are the health benefits?
The first concern is the weight. Although we are no longer able to lose it at the pace we used to, a simple activity like swimming or cycling can help obtain muscle mass and speed up the slow metabolism. Easy activities, like walking, doing yoga or even making love, play a major role in relieving stress, burning calories, and improving sleeping cycle. After we reach a certain age, joints in the body begin to suffer. A regular exercise has positive effects on the body’s flexibility and heart rate and helps in disease prevention, such as cancer and arthritis.
Here are a few you can try:
1.Take a walk
Believe it or not, taking a walk every day does wonders for your health without pushing yourself too hard. Since all you need are comfy trainers, walking is considered to be a convenient exercise for people of any age. This is a type of cardio-exercise because it naturally regulates your heart rate. Moreover, by doing this activity daily, you shall boost your energy level, thus, getting rid of fatigue. Getting started is the hardest part, so incorporate at least a half an hour walk into your daily routine. You can also try walking football, another version of the game without running.
2. Take up cycling
Don’t be afraid of trying something new! Remember that you are never too old to take up a sport. Make sure to choose wisely and work in moderation. For example, start with cycling. Along with being fun and inexpensive, it’s extremely beneficial for your health. As we know, joints are quite fragile as we get older. Riding a bike keeps the joints in good shape without adding excessive pressure. In addition to being a good cardio exercise, cycling outdoors beats the stationary bike, since the cyclist is able to enjoy the scenery. Cycling has also proven effective in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Try water sports
If arthritis is preventing you from working out efficiently, think about taking up a water sport. Swimming is the best exercise to reduce the pain in the joints and tone up muscles. Moreover, swimming is a quite enjoyable activity that you can do alone or in a team. If swimming is not enough for you, give a thought to an aqua aerobics class or playing a water polo as a recreational sport. Another advantage of water sports is that they take place in leisure centers, where usually many get a chance to meet new people and make new friendships.
4. Make love
If working out is not your cup of tea, there are a couple ordinary activities you can do so as to improve your health. Along with walking, dancing, and hiking, give a thought to being more active between the sheets. Many studies have shown that a regular sexual activity reduces anxiety as well as depression. It has positive effects on your hormones and blood pressure. Not to mention that this shall rekindle the flame with your partner. However, many difficulties appear with age, such as erectile dysfunction and low libido, so it’s always best to be on the safe side and consult a medical expert regarding the issue.
5. Try Yoga or Tai Chi
These two physical and spiritual practices help relieve your body and mind from stress. Get your flexibility back by doing some yoga poses. For example, the Sphinx pose strengthens the upper back. As a result, it prevents forward head syndrome. Moreover, try Tai Chi and find your balance as well as peace with some simple exercises. By regularly doing one of the two activities, you shall improve your posture, and thus, prevent falling down by accident. With the increased flexibility, some house chores and activities won’t be hard for you to complete, as they used to be.
Make a safe choice
There is nothing worse than being limited by your own body. Avoid such a scenario and make a safe choice. By taking up one of these 5 safest activities, you shall definitely benefit in the long run. If you are just getting started, then start by walking regularly. Cycling is also a good choice. Ease any pain with water sports. If you looking to relieve stress, yoga, Tai Chi or even making love will do.
