Exercise has been known to add years to our lives, but a more imperative aspect of exercise is adding life to our years. An active lifestyle will not only enhance your appearance, but will also make you experience a higher sense of well-being as well as feel positive, energetic, and mentally sharper.
With aging comes many reasons that lead to a sedentary life. Issues regarding health, weight, pain, uncertainties about balance, etc. are factors that account to the many reasons that constrict physical movement. However, an active lifestyle is crucial for the overall well-being in the later years of your life. Apart from enhancing your mood, mind and memory, indulging in regular physical activities aids in retaining your independence, increases your energy, manages pain, weight, as well as symptoms of illness, and protects your heart.
The physical benefits of exercise include:
Weight Management
Metabolism diminishes with age, and thus maintaining a healthy weight often becomes a struggle. Exercise increases the body metabolism and helps to regulate a healthy weight.
Heightened Mobility, Flexibility, and Balance
Keeping the body active with routine exercise habits increases mobility, flexibility, strength, balance, and posture.
Shields From Diseases
People who inculcate exercise as a part of their daily life have better immune system, balanced blood pressure, reduced digestive issues, lower exposure to chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiac issues, etc.
The mental benefits of exercise include:
Confidence and Mood Booster
Exercise produces endorphins in our body which aid in reducing feelings of depression, melancholy, or anxiety. Also, the feeling of being strong and active promotes a feeling of self-confidence.
Sleep and Proper Rest
Our bodies require certain amount of rest, and as we age, we get less sleep for our body to relax and rejuvenate. Exercising regularly exerts the body, thus aiding in proper sleep, resulting in a feeling of being revitalized and active after waking up.
Maintains Brain Health
Exercise has been proven to prevent degeneration of brain cells and shielding the brain from memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Walking, yoga, Tai-chi, water sports or water aerobics, and senior fitness programs are some of the physical activities that help seniors maintain an active lifestyle. Exercising with other seniors will be fun too! However, it is important to keep yourself motivated, and seniors should set short-term goals and reward themselves once they achieve these goals.
Seniors who stay healthy are the ones who live longer and have a more rewarding retirement. It is in these years that you have a golden opportunity to enjoy each and every moment of your own life, grab life by the reins, and focus on yourself. You only live once right, then why not make it grand and enjoy it to the fullest?
