Exercises to Keep Seniors Healthy at Home

Quarantining doesn’t have to mean adopting a sedentary lifestyle.

On the contrary, it is now more important than ever to make sure we stay active. Luckily, there are plenty of exercises that people of all ages can do in the comfort of their own home, and that don’t require any gym equipment, a backyard, or a large empty room.

In today’s article, we’re going to focus on five simple and safe at-home exercises for seniors, so keep reading and learn how to stay healthy while under quarantine.

• Yoga

Yoga is great for your body and mind, as it allows you to relax and work on breathing, while also working on your flexibility, balance, and strength.

From the bird dog to the tree pose, the sphinx, and the widely-known downward facing dog: there are countless yoga poses that are perfect for seniors. If these are too difficult, you can always give chair yoga a try.  Learn some great yoga poses for seniors here

• Leg and Arm Raises

If your main goal is to keep your legs and arms strong (as well as improve your balance), doing daily raises is the perfect exercise for you.

For the leg raises, remember to stand by a chair, so that you can grab onto it in case you lose balance. For the arms ones, you can sit on the chair and, if you want to make them more challenging, add weights on a resistance band.

• Weight Workout

A light weight workout will help you build muscle mass and become stronger, which can efficiently relieve symptoms of many conditions, including osteoporosis, diabetes, and depression.

There are several exercises you can try, including front raises, arm curls, and overhead presses.

If you don’t have weights at home, don’t worry – cans of food or small water bottles will work.

• Walking

Walking around in your home might not sound like the most exciting physical activity ever, but it is a great option if you don’t want to push your body too hard. When paired with some upbeat music, it can actually become a great past-time.

If you want to make it even more fun, establish a minimum of steps you want to take each day, borrow your kid’s FitBit, and make it a solo competition.

• Dancing

If you and your partner love revisiting amazing nights you two spent on the dance floor, why not start dancing again?

It will improve your mobility and balance, reduce joint stiffness and pain, boost your heart health, and bring you two even closer together, so put your favorite song on and dance just like you used to.

While exercising is great at any age, for seniors, it is particularly important to make sure that their chosen physical activity is completely safe. We strongly recommend speaking with your doctor about your exercising plans and asking them for their professional opinion.

In addition to that, remember to drink plenty of water and to always listen to your body, and we know these exercises will make you feel healthier than ever.