Movers and Shakers: Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

"Health is the vital principle of bliss and exercise of health." - James Thomson

Here at Blue Harbor Senior Living, we design our activities program to nurture the mind, body, and soul. Accessible, daily movement is an important part of our programming. From chair yoga to tai chi to walking groups to dance classes, we offer regularly scheduled exercise classes.

Why is daily movement so important? Well, the benefits of regular exercise speak for themselves. In this edition of the True Blue blog, learn all about the benefits of physical activity!

Physical Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

Regular physical activity can improve physical health. By reducing inflammation and improving circulation, it can help to prevent ailments that come with a sedentary lifestyle. A few of the physical benefits of exercise include:

• Healthy weight management. Maintaining a healthy weight is key to injury and disease prevention.
• Improves balance and stability. Better balance helps prevent falls and injury. By building muscle, exercise helps seniors become more stable.
• Boosts immunity prevents disease. Regular exercise is linked to improved immunity and better cardiovascular health.

Mood and Sleep

Ever been in a crummy mood but then went out for a walk and returned feeling much better? Well, that's the power of physical activity. Not only does staying active help us stay in better physical shape, but it’s also fantastic for your mood.

Additionally, regular exercise improves sleep, which also helps to improve overall mood and vitality. With regular light physical activity, we sleep more restfully and wake up feeling more energized to enjoy the beautiful day ahead.

Exercise and Memory

Studies show that exercise improves mood and sleep and reduces stress and anxiety. Additionally, regular aerobic exercise is shown to help protect memory improving cognitive skills. Who knew that by exercising the body that we're exercising the mind, too?

Making Exercise Accessible for Seniors

There are easy-on-the-joints senior-friendly exercises that make physical activity fun and accessible. A few favorites include yoga, Tai Chi, chair aerobics, sittercize, and group walks. Read all about the benefits of improving balance through exercise, and explore our community activities calendars for a full list of classes!

Bringing it All Together

Want to try one of our True Blue movement-based activities firsthand? We’d love to introduce you! Get in touch so that we can schedule a time for you to take a tour and find your True Blue home. Thanks for reading the Blue Harbor Senior Living blog; until next time!