What Exercise You Should Do After 60?
If you’ve exercised throughout your life, you know that after 60 years old, you can keep moving, though with less intensity. You may wonder what exercise you should do after 60? On the other hand, if you haven’t practiced sports, you’ve surely been encouraged by your doctor or family to become a little more active. In this article, we’ll look at the exercises you should do after 60.
Exercise you should do after 60
Maybe some people can’t imagine exercising in their golden years. For others, it’s a way to remain active after a lifetime of doing so. Indeed, exercise is good for your health at any age. That doesn’t change once you reach your 60s. Below are some of the benefits of staying active after retirement:
1. Exercise after 60 prevents illness
Osteoporosis, hypertension, urinary incontinence, and type 2 diabetes are very common after the age of 60. Thanks to exercise, you can delay their onset or even prevent them altogether.
2. Improves cognitive function
Yes, exercise is an excellent way to improve your mental state. Firstly, it reduces stress and makes you happier, by releasing endorphins (among other hormones).
What’s more, paying attention to movement helps you to be more aware of your environment and makes you respond faster to stimuli. And there’s so much you need to remember in a class!
3. Strengthens muscles and bones
After 60 years, your muscles begin to sag, not only affecting your appearance but your body as well. Also, your bones just aren’t as strong as they used to be. What’s more, exercise can prevent serious fractures from falls.
Tips for the exercise you should do after 60
If we’ve convinced you of the benefits of exercise or if you’ve already been given a nudge by your doctor or family, then it’s time for you to get moving. Before starting any physical activity, make sure to follow these tips:
- Get a routine checkup that includes a stress test and an EKG.
- Go at it little by little; 20 minutes a day to start is perfect.
- Listen to your body. If you feel tired, stop, if you become sore, stretch more.
- Don’t forget to drink water: two liters a day is the minimum.
- Increase your pace over time if you feel you’re able to do higher impact exercises.
- Wear comfortable clothing and change as soon as you finish a class.
- Choose enclosed spaces to exercise; as such, the weather won’t be an excuse to skip out.
Types of exercise you should do after 60
If you’ve been living a sedentary lifestyle, you should try out a few activities until you find one you like and that motivates you. On the other hand, if you’ve been active, you can keep doing the same sport. However, you should lower the intensity or choose another that you like.
Though you might think that age limits your options, that’s only a myth. There are many options to choose from, such as the following:
1. Walking
It’s what all doctors recommend. All you need is comfortable clothing and shoes to walk a few laps around the park. If you become bored, take your dog for a walk, listen to music, or seek out other people to go along with you. There are even groups that go out for walks together.
Discover: The Basics of Power Walking
2. Swimming
Any activity in water is good for you since it puts less stress on your joints than in other environments. You can opt for water aerobics or just swim a few laps. You can even do this while staying close to the pool’s edge.
3. Pilates
Indeed, Pilates isn’t just for women. Many men do Pilates since it involves slow and fluid movements. What’s more, it’s similar to yoga, tai chi, and qi gong, all of which are Asian disciplines that exercise the body and mind.
4. Dance
If you’re rather active, we recommend salsa or Zumba classes. There are some for every age group and you can go at your own pace.
In conclusion, exercising in your golden years is definitely something you should aim for. It’ll help you stay fit, feel good, and help to keep ailments at bay. It’s never too late to start moving!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ávila-Funes, J. A., & García-Mayo, E. J. (2004). Beneficios de la práctica del ejercicio en los ancianos. Gaceta Médica de Mexico.
