As we get older, it becomes more important than ever to stay fit. Learning to make exercise a part of our daily life is the key to living a longer and happier life.
There is no better time than now to start being active and learning what it means to be fit. This is what makes a gym an ideal place for seniors.
Being active in retirement years is more viable now than ever before since there are so many great workouts, and so much equipment and fitness knowledge that allows us to live longer, healthier and more active lives even in the golden years.
There are many good reasons why seniors should join a gym, let’s look at the top ten:
1 – Bone Density
As we get older we start to loss bone density, this can put you in danger of developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become brittle and weak.
Luckily exercise has been shown to increase bone density and strength. The best types of exercise for your bones are resistance exercises, like, lifting weights and weight bearing exercises, such as, walking.
2 – Independence
Staying fit and active can ensure that you will be able to continue your normal daily activities. A regular exercise routine will help you to avoid disabilities that might make you dependent on others. Staying independent from needing help or assistance is a great motivation to stay healthy.
3 – Guidance
Gyms are great places to get help and knowledge about being healthy. The people that work at gyms can give you guidance and help to make sure that you are doing the exercises correctly. Having a spotter or personal trainer can help you to maximize your work out and ensure that you don’t hurt yourself.
4 – Classes
Gyms have a wide variety of classes for you to experience. Many of these classes are specifically designed with seniors in mind. Classes are taught by trained professionals that are there to help you.
5 – Social Interactions
You will be able to socialize and interact with other seniors. It’s a lot easier to keep a regular exercise routine if you have friends that are doing the same thing as you. Many seniors go to classes together and share their experiences and knowledge.
6 – Emotional Health
Working out makes you feel good. Studies show that working out can reduce depression and increase your sense of wellbeing. Being physically active will make you feel better and more confident.
7 – Heart
Cardiovascular activity is a great way to keep your heart healthy and to manage your weight. Walking or running is an ideal exercise to accomplish this, but it is not always easy or feasible to do this outside all year round.
A gym offers treadmills and stair climbers that can be used no matter what type of weather is going on.
8 – Increase Muscle Mass
After the age of 40 we all start to lose muscle mass. By being active and working out you can slow down the loss of muscle. Lifting weights is a good way to maintain muscles mass and a gym has all the equipment that you will need.
9 – Flexibility
A great place to gain flexibility is at a gym. Most gyms have Yoga classes that are designed for seniors. A yoga class will help you to stay flexible by teaching you the proper way to stretch.
Flexibility is one of the most important aspects of health. Stretching also helps your blood vessels stay flexible which helps your body to absorb more nutrients.
10 – Balance
Maintaining balance is vital to seniors. A fall can be disabling and could cause permanent damage. By performing balance training exercises you can avoid the #1 cause of injury in seniors.
Bottom Line
Gyms know what seniors need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and they provide the classes and expertise to help them achieve all their health goals.
