The Top 3 Ways to Stay Active Outdoors as a Senior

As a senior, it’s important to stay as active as possible to keep your heart healthy and stay in shape. Unfortunately, as people age, they become accustomed to a life of sitting at home and enjoying their retirement years all from the couch. Though relaxation is important for seniors, too much can lead to weight gain and difficulty moving, which can shorten life.

Seniors should make it a priority to get up and move for at least some part of the day, ideally outside. Remaining active will improve a senior’s life in a variety of different ways and will help in prolonging it.

An expert from a company that handles in-home care for seniors pointed out that staying active can mean various things for seniors depending on each senior’s capabilities. This post will detail some different ways that seniors can stay active outdoors, depending on his or her abilities.

How to Stay Active in Your Golden Years

Some seniors have more physical capabilities than others; this can be due to many different things such as illnesses, surgeries, or general differences in age.

However, staying active in some way is essential for all seniors, ideally outdoors, where they can get fresh air and sunshine.

Here are three ways that seniors can stay active in their golden years.

Take up Hiking

Hiking is a great way to get seniors outside and moving. It doesn’t have to be intense, nor does it have to be strenuous.

Seniors that have a hard time getting around should treat hiking as one step above an outdoor walk. If they have a hard time getting around can look up easy hiking trails in their area, perhaps a route that is on a flat surface rather than going up a hill or mountain.

Hiking will get the body moving, the heart pumping, and give seniors the chance to spend some time outside.

For those that are more physically capable, they should consider hiking with friends or family on different trails around the state. Not only will hiking keep them, but it will also be a way to keep him or her social.

Join an Outdoor Yoga Class

Yoga is a fantastic way for seniors to stay active. It uses all of the muscles in the body and will keep the body toned, strong, and flexible.

Yoga is also beneficial for the mind as it focuses on peace, calmness, awareness, and healing. All seniors should make it a point to at least trying yoga because of its copious benefits, and those that enjoy it should look into outdoor yoga classes.

Many cities, towns, and even retirement communities offer outdoor yoga classes. When a senior joins an outdoor yoga class, he or she gets to take advantage of the sun and fresh air while also bettering his or her overall health and wellness with the company of others.

Outdoor yoga is also an outstanding option because people of all different skill levels can participate in this activity.

Practice Cardio

Cardio is a way to keep the heart healthy and pumping. A healthy heart is vital for people of all ages, especially seniors, and a way to preserve one’s heart is to practice cardio.

Some forms of outdoor cardio include:

• Running
• Sprints
• Cycling
• Jump roping
• Walking/ walking his or her dog
• Jumping jacks

Seniors can choose their outdoor cardio activity based on their physical capabilities, and like hiking and yoga, seniors can do this activity alone or with friends, neighbors, or family.

Cardio is also great to keep the extra pounds off that sometimes come with age.

Stay Active Outside as You Age

Whether you are a senior now, or your retirement years are approaching, do all you can to stay as active as possible.

Do your best to avoid laying around as you put yourself at risk of serious medical issues that can impact not only the longevity of your life but also the quality of it. Consider some of these outdoor activities today.