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How to Stay Fit as You Get Older

As we age, our bodies need even more care than before.

As we age, our bodies need even more care than before. This is why staying fit should be a priority, and not just for vanity reasons. Fitness can do wonders for seniors’ health, mental wellbeing, and general mood. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves self-reliance, balance, memory, and more, which keeps you in the best quality of life. Even if you’ve never exercised much before, it’s never too late to get started. Read on below to find some helpful tips for senior fitness.

Get Active

Getting active boosts your immune system. As you age, it gets harder for your body to fight off infections and diseases. But don’t worry, staying fit doesn’t necessarily mean over-exerting yourself with strenuous activities. Even low-impact exercises like aerobics, stretching, and lifting light weights can make a big difference in your health.
Some of the most recommended senior fitness exercises include chair yoga and Pilates. Both of these are very beneficial for seniors’ muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility. They can also help improve sleep and mental health.

One great way seniors keep up fitness is by going for regular walks. Getting in your steps is especially beneficial for your heart health. It reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke. Here at Solterra Senior Living, enjoy a leisurely stroll through our walking paths. Our beautiful surroundings provide a serene, uplifting environment. You’ll love walking through the great outdoors of our paths and courtyards.

You can also consider water aerobics or light swimming. Exercising in water helps reduce strain on your joints.

Don’t Be Discouraged About Senior Fitness If You Are Disabled

There are creative solutions and specific forms of exercise for seniors with limited mobility or who are wheelchair-bound. These include lifting weights, stretching, strengthening exercises, and chair yoga. There’s also tai chi, a favorite fitness activity of many seniors. Tai chi and yoga both help with balance, confidence, strength, and flexibility.

Check Out a Senior Fitness Class or Program

At Solterra, we make sure to offer many different enriching activity programs. These are great for your body, spirit, mind, and all-around health. Staying engaged and excited by our programs and learning new things will help with memory and cognitive function. Plus, our programs are perfect opportunities to socialize and make new friends. This helps improve mood and decreases the risk of depression. Plus, when you meet new people, you can ask for them to be your walking or exercise buddies. Having fun with new friends makes fitness more enticing.

Eat Healthily

Keeping up senior fitness also includes eating healthy, nutritious food. Get your regular vitamins, protein, and antioxidants. What you eat can affect your immune system, memory, general cognitive function, and mood. Here at Solterra Senior Living, our dining centers makes sure to serve three delicious, nutritious, chef-prepared meals a day. We also make sure to provide a variety of different options. And don’t hesitate to suggest your favorite foods. Our Culinary Council always welcomes feedback. We want to do whatever we can to keep residents as happy and healthy as possible.

Here at Solterra Senior Living, we make senior fitness a priority. One of our many great amenities is our on-site wellness and therapy center. This well-equipped space is available for all residents to use, whenever they need it. You can find out more information on us on our website.