Aging is nothing new for the elderly. Sometimes, however, we overlook the aging process’s side effects and disregard minor signs that may be cause for concern. Insights from WHO indicate certain health conditions are more common in older age — such as hearing loss to back and neck pain. As people age, they are also more likely to develop complex health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that causes obstructed airflow in the lungs.
As such, while we must remember that while aging is natural and inevitable, we should still put in the extra effort to maintain good health. In our previous post titled “Breast Cancer in the Elderly“, we emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced, healthy diet as well as lifestyle. For cancer specifically, maintaining an optimum body weight prevents the overproduction of estrogen in our bodies, which is known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
It also won’t hurt to do some exercises and keep the body moving. Today, we’ll go over three fitness activities for the elderly that can be done at home:
Yoga
Yoga is an excellent option as it is physically less demanding than other sports. While staying fit is essential, you shouldn’t risk getting injured because of your workout. In “5 Reasons Why You Should Start Doing Yoga Today”, lifestyle blogger James Gonzales notes that is increasing in popularity across generations – and for a good reason. Yoga builds your physical strength, increases flexibility, and even helps you sleep better at night. Moreover, yoga can also relieve pain in the body and muscles. As our bodies age, they become more prone to chronic pains, so yoga can help address these minor aches. While advanced yoga practitioners can do complex yoga poses even in their golden years, starting small is essential if you’re beginning the practice. Beginner yoga poses primarily focus on breathing and light stretching, so seniors can participate and feel the benefits without the risk of getting hurt.
Tai chi
Tai chi is a mind-body exercise rooted in various Asian traditions, encompassing martial arts to philosophy. While yoga is known for its striking poses, Forbes notes how tai chi allows you to practice mindfulness while engaging in slow, intentional movements. For those who aren’t physically inclined, tai chi is a great way to improve fitness without breaking a sweat. The health benefits of practicing tai chi include improvements in balance, power, strength, and stamina. Tai chi is also clinically proven to be effective rehabilitation for people with cardiopulmonary conditions, reducing chronic pain in the body. A key aspect of practicing tai chi is that, over time, the mind and the body work more harmoniously together. In other words, you can multitask without getting distracted, strengthen your memory, and be more physically aware of your body such that you reduce the risk of falling.
Walking or standing
Lastly, it can be easy for older people to fall into a sedentary lifestyle that is focused on peace. However, the NHS recommends older adults to engage in regular physical activity and reduce the amount of time spent sitting or lying down. Even if you aren’t fit for vigorous exercise, taking the time to stand up while doing home activities, such as watering plants or peeling fruit, is more beneficial to your body than if done sitting down. You don’t have to aim for 10,000 steps daily — although you can if you want — because walking in the comforts of your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom, for example, is still walking.
For the elderly, it’s vital to engage in fitness activities that aren’t dangerous for them, and doing these in the comforts of their home can help them remain active and healthy.
Authored by: Jamielle Baypark
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