Best At-Home Exercises for Seniors

For elderly seniors, getting out of the house to get to the gym is not an easy feat — especially if they may have some mobility issues. Fortunately, there are several simple workouts that can be done at home. These home-based workouts are simple; they don’t require a lot of equipment and can be adapted for different fitness levels. Here’s a look at three of the best exercises for seniors.

Yoga and Pilates

These two gentle exercises are deceptively good workouts that can also be adapted to almost any level of fitness and flexibility. This makes them excellent exercise options for elderly seniors and for those who might have limited mobility.

Both yoga and pilates will strengthen and tone the muscles through a series of movements. They mostly rely on your body weight to build muscles. This means there’s no special equipment that you need to buy, except maybe an exercise mat and some comfortable clothes. Finally, many who find that they have trouble falling asleep at night will appreciate what a simple yoga routine before bed can do.

Walking in Place

That simple exercise that was a staple in our junior high gym class is still a good and safe way to tone up and get your heart pumping. While many people prefer to walk on a treadmill, some seniors may not be able to due to balance issues. That’s why a plain and simple walk in place can be so effective. When you walk on the treadmills, the ground is moving beneath your feet, which makes it more difficult to recover your balance should you get off-kilter.

When you walk in place, the floor stays in place, and you can keep a chair close by to grab onto should the need arise. Like yoga, you don’t need any equipment, just some comfortable clothes that allow you to move around easily.

Dancing

Many people who live in our assisted living communities love ballroom (and other types of) dancing. While dancing with a partner is always a lot of fun, there are still many benefits to dancing on your own. Simple dance steps will get your heart rate up and will work many different muscles in your body. Aside from this, it’s fun, which means that you’ll likely stick with it!

The Convenience of Exercising at Home

Working out at home allows you to keep fit without going to the gym. It also allows you to find workout routines that fit your level of fitness, which is useful if you have trouble keeping up with a classroom full of people. Workout routines like these build the body, strengthen muscles, and keep the heart strong.

Contact The Arbors Assisted Living

The Arbors Assisted Living is a community that encourages elderly seniors to stay active and to live their best senior life! Contact us today to learn more about The Arbors Assisted Living Community.