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Good dieting is a proven way of maintaining excellent overall well-being in all stages of life. Every age group requires a proper diet to stay healthy and active as they approach the next phase. As much as dieting contributes to the glow-up of the skin and strengthening of the bones, it’s not enough to achieve significant results by itself.
Combining dieting and exercising is perfect for developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Exercising should not be restricted to only young people or kids. Our older loved ones also need to stretch their bodies to remain in good shape.
Seasons Retirement, a reputed retirement home in Canada, is dedicated to providing your older loved ones with nourishing diets and fun activities to improve their fitness levels and ensure they stay in good health. Check this post to know more about the fun ways they keep their residents fit and happy.
This article will walk you through a list of cardio exercises for seniors that can contribute to the fitness of older adults.
Benefits Of Cardio Exercises For Seniors
Cardio exercises engage the heart and lungs, increasing your heartbeat and breathing rate healthfully. There are several benefits of cardio for seniors, including:
Promotes Blood Flow
With your heart pumping fast, blood flows easily to different parts of your body, aiding easy movements of your body parts and strengthening your heart.
Healthy Weight Loss
Older people with excess weight are at risk of heart disease and stroke — not to mention obesity. Cardio helps to eliminate excess body fat, keeping your older loved ones fit and healthy. To effectively achieve weight loss, you can combine cardio exercises for seniors with proper dieting.
Improves Cognitive Functions
Cardio does not just work on your body; it helps to keep your mind active and functional. Your brain works faster, and your memory is sharper. Older people are often associated with memory loss, but with cardio, your parents or grandparents can defy such notions.
Flexibility and Balance
As we grow older, we experience certain changes that may come with some bodily restrictions. These changes can be managed by engaging in cardio exercises for seniors. For instance, a person with arthritis will feel less stiffness and pain in their joints when they try to move if they practice cardio regularly.
Also, they would not be in danger of losing their balance when walking, standing, sitting, or getting up from bed. Cardio helps them keep their balance and improves flexibility.
Builds The Immune System
With cardio, there is an increase in immunoglobulins to strengthen the immune system. Your older ones will be able to beat a cold or any common illness without falling sick.
Improves Sleeping Pattern
After a set of cardio exercises, your body is relaxed enough to rest and fall asleep. Your loved one will not only sleep well but will also wake up refreshed.
Mood Lifts
Studies have shown that exercising can lift the mood. It helps to eliminate depression, and with one cardio session, your loved ones will feel happier and more relaxed than before the workout.
Cardio Exercises For Seniors
If your older ones have not been actively exercising before now, starting them on intensive workouts is not advised, so you don’t overexert their muscles. This is to prevent a risk to their health or avoidable soreness.
In order to avoid such a situation, you can ease your older relatives into cardio for seniors by engaging them in light exercises.
Here are some low-impact cardio for seniors:
Walking
This is one of the simplest forms of cardio for older people. Mobile people already practice this routine daily, and the activity is good for their health. The exercise includes taking a walk in the park or around the block at any convenient pace.
This gets the heart pumping and allows easy blood flow to different body parts. Older adults who need support while performing this exercise can use a walking cane or a walker.
Jogging
This is a faster form of walking. It is advised that older adults start at a low pace before slowly increasing intensity to a faster speed.
When performing the activity, they should wear comfortable running shoes and clothes to protect them from potential injuries and provide them with confidence.
Jogging can also be practiced on a treadmill for people who’ll rather stay indoors.
Swimming
With easy access to a pool, your older loved ones can spend some time swimming. While being a low-impact cardio for seniors, the activity still targets all the major muscles in the body. Swimming helps relax the muscles and improve sleeping patterns.
Dancing
Dancing is a fun form of cardio. You get to move your body to the sound of music whether you are a good dancer or not — there’s no judgment. The activity can be done in the comfort of your room or in outdoor gatherings as a social activity. Get your friends and family together to engage in this activity with your older relatives.
Cycling
Cycling is a moderate-impact exercise that targets the hamstrings and quadriceps. It helps to engage the hip joint and improve its flexibility.
Stationary cycling is one of the cardio exercises for seniors at home. Older adults don’t need to struggle for balance or comfort while cycling. The recumbent bike has a reclining form to aid the performance of cardio without straining the waist.
Yoga
Light yoga stretches complete our list of cardio exercises for seniors at home. All you need to practice this activity is a mat and an instructor.
Perform yoga stretches to regain flexibility, strength, and mobility in stiff or weak parts of your body. Yoga also enhances the alignment between the mind and the body to aid cognitive functions in older adults.
Other cardio exercises for seniors include water aerobics, rowing, light dumbbell exercises, etc.
Conclusion
Exercises contribute to healthy living in people of all ages. You can ease your older loved ones into low-impact cardio exercises and gradually increase the intensity as they adapt. These exercises can be practiced in a group with family and friends to make them more fun.