Best Senior-Friendly Sports

Everyone knows that exercising is essential throughout all stages of life. However, as we age, our health starts to deteriorate and moving our bodies becomes even more critical. Doing sports not only helps prevent heart disease, but it also improves balance, reduces obesity risk, increases happiness, among many other positive factors. Still, the older we get, the riskier some sports become. While jumping to the first sport that comes into mind can be tempting, it may be more detrimental than beneficial. It’s always advisable to visit a doctor to understand the best type of exercise for the health condition in place. Nevertheless, there are some sports that are generally considered the best for seniors to practice.

Low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, and dancing are popular choices. Going for a walk is the easiest (and cheapest) way to exercise. There’s no need for fancy and expensive gear – just open the door and embrace the outdoors. Alone or in a group, the most important thing is that you’re doing some exercise and moving your body. Even if there’s bad weather, you can always have a stroll in the nearby mall – perfect to do some window shopping while you’re there.

When you reach a certain age, falling becomes very scary and a bad fall can change your quality of life forever – so it’s no child’s play. Since our balance deteriorates with age and we start falling more often, it makes doing sports that improve our stability, such as yoga or tai chi, crucial.

Yoga is a comprehensive workout that strengthens all your body’s muscles, improves both balance and flexibility, and reduces stress. The more complicated positions may scare some people off, though. However, beginners all start with basic exercises that anyone can do, youngsters and seniors alike, so, if you’ve been thinking of taking some yoga classes, today is the best day to start.

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that has been practiced for centuries. it features slow, meditative movements, perfect for any senior looking for a way to exercise. Besides the many health benefits, tai chi practitioners will also feel their muscles strengthening, their balance increasing, higher flexibility, and greater peace of mind.

These are just some examples of ways to move your body, improve your health, physical aptitude, and overall happiness. However, exercising always has an associated risk factor, especially when it comes to older adults. This way, it’s essential to have help right away if the worst happens. Medical alert systems are the perfect service to have if an accident occurs. There are a few details to take into account, though.