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Guest Blog: Types of Best Exercises for Senior Citizens

As we age, it’s natural to feel a bit more sluggish or out of shape. That’s why it’s important for seniors to stay active and practice healthy habits. Exercise is an excellent way to keep your body and mind in good shape, and there are several types of exercises that are perfect for seniors.

From low-impact activities like yoga and Tai Chi to more intensive activities like strength training and aerobic exercise, there are a variety of exercises that seniors can do to stay fit and healthy. Whether you’re looking to stay active and maintain your current fitness level or improve your strength, balance, and flexibility, there are exercises for every senior. In this article, we’ll discuss types of exercises for senior citizens to stay fit and healthy.

What are the Benefits of Exercise for Senior Citizens?

There are many benefits of exercise for senior citizens. First, exercise will help you manage your weight and stay fit. Exercise can even help you lose weight if you’re not currently trying to lose weight. Exercise will also lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other chronic diseases.

Regular exercise can also help improve your mood, memory and mental function, and sleep quality. Exercise can also benefit your joints and bones by increasing flexibility and preventing injury. Exercise is a great way to stay connected to others and cultivate new friendships.

If you’re currently not exercising, you could be putting your health in danger. Some of the benefits that exercise can provide include improved energy levels, stronger muscles, increased flexibility, stronger bones, improved cardiovascular health, increased self-confidence, reduced stress levels, and improved overall mental health.

Low-Impact Exercises

Low-impact exercises are great for seniors who are out of shape or have joint issues. Many online exercise programs are available for different needs. Low-impact exercises are gentle on the body, making them appropriate for seniors who are new to exercising. Low-impact exercises often use a chair or a mat, and can be done either indoors or outdoors.

Low-impact exercises include chair yoga, tai chi, aquatic exercises, gentle stretching, and walking. Many low-impact exercises are also social and can be done with a group of people. This can be a great way to meet new friends and make connections.

If you’re new to exercising, low-impact exercises are a great place to start. These exercises don’t place as much stress on your muscles, joints, or bones. This makes them appropriate for seniors who are just getting back into exercise.

Endurance Exercises

Endurance exercises are designed to increase your heart rate and improve your cardiovascular health. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors, but are best done outside in the fresh air. Endurance exercises include walking, hiking, jogging, cycling, swimming, rowing, and stair climbing.

These exercises can be done with a group of people, or you can do them by yourself. Outdoor endurance exercises are a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy the beautiful weather. If you’re looking for an easy way to get your heart rate up, then endurance exercises is the way to go.

These exercises use large muscle groups, which mean that you’ll get a lot of benefits from just one workout. You’ll increase your heart rate, strengthen your muscles, and improve your overall health.

Strength Training Exercises

Strength training exercises target specific muscle groups to increase muscle strength and tone. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors and are an excellent way to improve your overall health. Strength training exercises include squats, lunges, overhead presses, and leg curls.

These exercises can be done with free weights or resistance bands. Strength training exercises are great for strengthening your muscles and improving overall fitness. Strength training exercises can also help prevent injury. If you’re already exercising, adding in some strength training exercises each week can enhance your fitness level. Strength training exercises are a great way to keep your muscles strong and healthy as you get older.

Balance Exercises

Balance exercises are designed to improve your balance, stability, and coordination. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors, and can be done with a group of people or by yourself. Balance exercises include standing on one foot, walking on a balance board, yoga poses, and tai chi movements.

These exercises are easy to do and can be done by seniors of all abilities. Balance exercises are a great way to keep your body and mind healthy as you age. These exercises can also benefit people who suffer from various health issues.

If you have trouble with your balance, you may have poor proprioception. Proprioception refers to your body’s ability to sense its position in space. Improving your proprioception can help you to avoid falls, trips, and injuries.

Stretching Exercises

Stretching exercises are often done at the end of a workout or before bed. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors and can be done either with a group of people or by yourself. Stretching exercises can include simple yoga poses, tai chi movements, and gentle stretching exercises.

Yoga poses are particularly useful for seniors, as many yoga poses are designed to be done while seated. Stretching exercises are a great way to improve your flexibility and reduce muscle tension after exercising. Stretching exercises can also help improve your posture.

Flexibility Exercises

Flexibility exercises are designed to increase your flexibility and improve your range of motion. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors, and can be done with a group of people or by yourself.

Flexibility exercises include yoga poses, seated stretching, and tai chi movements. These exercises can be done with very little equipment, making them easy to do. Flexibility exercises are a great way to loosen your muscles and improve your flexibility. If you’re currently not exercising, you could be putting your health in danger.

Some of the benefits that exercise can provide include improved energy levels, stronger muscles, increased flexibility, stronger bones, improved cardiovascular health, increased self-confidence, reduced stress levels, and improved overall mental health.

Core Exercises

Core exercises are designed to strengthen your core muscles. These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors and can be done with a group of people or by yourself. Core exercises include planks, crunches, and leg lifts. These exercises can be done with very little equipment, making them easy to do. Core exercises are a great way to strengthen your core muscles.

Conclusion

Exercise is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for seniors. It can improve your physical and mental health, help you maintain a healthy weight, and reduce your risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. And don’t worry if you’re not currently exercising.

You can start at any time, no matter how old you are or what shape you’re in. There are plenty of exercises that are easy to do and safe for seniors, which means that anyone can get started today. So don’t let another day pass without exercising. Pick one of these exercises and get moving!. And remember, it’s never too late to start exercising.

By Jim|2022-12-29T12:42:29-05:00December 29th, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: 5 Helpful Tips to Get Better Sleep at Night for Older People

A good night’s sleep is a cure for many physical and emotional ailments for everyone. It is vital for older people also to get deep sleep for 7-8 hours every night. They fell asleep early but wake up early too. As you get older, you generally start suffering from some illness, side effects of medicines, pain, or insomnia. These factors contribute to sleeplessness at night and waking up early. Lack of sleep can cause serious issues like depression, irritation, concentration loss, and memory loss.

Canadian Sleep Society surveyed senior citizens – they found out that 70% of older people face insomnia. Looking at the magnitude of this problem, we bring you 5 helpful tips to sleep better at night.

Create an Environment for Sleep

It’s all about how you create the right sleeping environment. There are a few things that will make your bedroom more cosy and comforting. Switch off maximum lights. Keep the room temperature to a lower level. Keep your surroundings as quiet as possible. Sound, bright light, and warm temperature hampers sleep quality.

Don’t try to stay awake because you want to watch a game or party. These habits can prove to be costly. Don’t rely on sleeping pills for sleeping. And no scrolling or checking notifications on the phone before an hour of bedtime.

Let’s Talk About Fabric

The fabric you surround yourself with while sleeping plays a vital role in your sleep quality. Wear loose nightclothes. Use fabric like cotton and other skin-friendly fabrics. You should feel comfortable while sleeping. The fabric of bed sheets and pillows should also be of natural materials that don’t irritate you.

Some of the wise choices are copper bed sheets and pillowcases. They are soft and contain antimicrobial properties. They are hygienic and safe as they are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-odour, etc. One more advantage of using copper-bedding and pillows is that they come with a self-cleaning feature.

The Golden Health Rule: Diet & Exercise

A diet high in sugar and carbs will hamper your sleep, mostly if you eat them for dinner. White bread, rice, and pasta should ideally not be on your plate. Caffeine is also not a sleep-friendly drink. Avoid caffeinated beverages in the evening times.

Exercise regularly! It produces chemicals and hormones in your body, which induces sleep. But make sure you exercise at least 3-4 hours before your bedtime. Otherwise rise in your body temperature will make it difficult to sleep.

Follow One Schedules

Going to bed at the same time and in the same place helps to fall asleep quickly. Changing sleep timing frequently sends confusing signals to your body. Making some good habits as your pre-sleep routine will enhance your sleep quality.

Reading and listening to music are examples of relaxing things to do before going to sleep. On the other hand, watching TV, drinking alcohol, and heated arguments before bedtime will mess up your ability to fall asleep.

Preserve Your Peace of Mind

It is naturally challenging to fall asleep if you are stressed or feeling anxious. Thus it would help if you learned to manage your emotions well. Worrying about sleep will only keep you awake at night. Develop the ability to keep all your disturbing thoughts aside before bedtime. Try breathing exercises and meditation.

Conclusion

The tips mentioned above are proven for improving sleep quality. Try implementing them if you are facing a problem falling asleep. If you can’t see improvement, consult your trusted physician. They can help you if you have insomnia or any other health condition.

Author Bio:

Rory is the R&D Director and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Defence a brand that’s recognized across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone. If you’d like to get in touch, email Rory at Rory@copperclothing.com or visit copperclothing.com for copper-infused clothing, pet accessories and more.

By Jim|2022-07-30T11:42:40-05:00August 9th, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

4 Ways to Turn Your Walk Into a Workout

While senior fitness offerings continue to explode in gyms around the country, the age-old tradition of simply ‘going for a walk’ still touts loads of health benefits, especially for older adults.

Brisk walking a offers low-impact activity that is relatively simple, can be done most anywhere, is fun to do with friends, and is easily modifiable to increase calorie burn. In addition to strengthening your bones and muscles, routine walking can also help prevent lifestyle conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as improve your balance, coordination, and even your mood.

If you are looking for quick ways to take your daily walk to the next level, don’t miss these expert tips:

Speed Up
The best exercise is that which gets your heart rate up to at least 55 to 85% of your MHR (maximum heart rate). The formula for MHR = 220 – your age. So if you are 65, for example, your maximum heart rate is around 155. Speeding up your walk so your heart rate climbs over 109 (70% of 155) for at least 10 minutes is going to count as good aerobic exercise that is helping strengthen your heart muscle.

Climb Hills
Walking up an incline naturally requires the body to work harder and use up more energy. This can help you build endurance over time and tone muscle groups in your legs you weren’t previously engaging. If you are concerned about a weak knee, reduce lateral knee movement and prevent discomfort with a knee brace specifically designed for walking.

Change Terrain
Instead of doing your usual walk around the roads in your neighborhood, head to a local trail and take a hike. Hiking up and downhill will burn more calories as well as pose a greater challenge to your balance and coordination skills. Exercising like this in nature has also been shown to boost feelings of attentiveness and positivity.

Add Intervals
Incorporate more intervals of high-intensity activity into your walk and you can both improve your endurance and aerobic capacity as well as give your metabolism a boost. 5 minutes of brisk walking punctuated with 30 seconds of squats, lunges, or crunches, followed by another 5 minutes of walking and then 1 minute of jogging and so on and so forth also spices up your walking routine and makes it a little more fun.

By Jim|2022-06-21T11:35:11-05:00July 16th, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off