News & Blog

No matter your age, it’s essential to stay active and healthy. In fact, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes even more important as you age. Staying active is the best way to remain healthy and live more independently.

It’s a common misconception that joining a senior living community means losing a part of your independence. In actuality, living in a senior living community gives you the perfect environment to focus on your health and well-being. The Mather Institute Age Well Study reports that those who live in a senior living community are typically healthier and more active than those who don’t. Senior living communities have trained staff as well as friends who will motivate you to stay active, participate in activities, keep busy, and be your best self. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best ways to stay active and help you enjoy retirement living:

1. 1. Walk – Living in a senior living community gives you a world to explore on and off the campus. You can lace up your sneakers, meet with your friends, and enjoy the outdoors. Walking 30 minutes daily can increase heart health, strengthen bones, and improve mood. It’s the perfect activity to explore different areas, see new things, and spend time with friends, all while improving your health.
2. 2. Dance – Whether attending a class or a community party, or just dancing to your favorite music with some friends, dancing is a great way to move your body. It increases cardio function and decreases the likelihood of bone-related conditions like osteoporosis.
3. 3. Play sports – Being in a senior living community gives you access to activities and people to do them with. Stay active by getting involved in sports programs and building relationships with others. You can hop into a sport that interests you or get a group together and build a team. Which sports you play may depend on your strength and interests, but consider bowling, tennis, pickle ball, shuffleboard, ping pong, corn hole or bocce ball, which are all relatively low impact and generally safe.
4. 4. Cycle – This is another excellent activity available inside or outside and tailored to fit your needs and capabilities. Hop on a bike and cycle around the community, neighborhood, or town. Depending on the intensity you are seeking, you can change your path and try cycling uphill or on different terrains. If you don’t want to cycle outside, you can cycle indoors on a spin bike or with foot petals. With either option, you’ll build muscle in your legs and strengthen your heart and lungs.
5. 5. Work out at a gym – You have all you need to stay fit in a gym, and many senior living communities have an onsite fitness center, often with a personal trainer available too. There’s a variety of activities for you to do in one place, and you can do them no matter the weather. Gyms provide weight training, cardio, yoga, Pilates, stretching, and classes. It’s an excellent option for you and a group of friends or as a solo activity.
6. 6. Swim – Many senior communities have an onsite pool and swimming is an ideal low-impact exercise. Laps in the pool help to build endurance, strengthen muscles, and improve cardiac function without much impact on your joints. You can swim laps, take a water aerobics class, or even try weight training in the pool. You might even live at a community with a spa to warm tired muscles after a swim.
7. 7. Get outside – The outdoors is an excellent setting for your mental and physical health. Outdoor activities can range from high-intensity workouts like hiking or running trails to calmer activities like enjoying the views on a walking path, yoga, or gardening. Along with the physical benefits of simply being active, there’s an added benefit of being outside and the stress relief that comes from being in nature. Many senior living communities have a walkable campus with trails of their own or are in close proximity to them.
8. 8. Attend a class – Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, especially as we age. Most senior living communities offer a wide variety of programs, classes, and lectures that can get your intellectual juices flowing. Sign up for a cooking class, sit in on a talk from a world-renowned scientist, or maybe learn how to paint from a local artist. The possibilities are endless. You will likely find a class or activity that piques your interest in most senior living communities.
9. 9. Make active choices – You can stay active and build strength just by making functional choices throughout your day. When it’s safe to do so, consider parking further away from the store, taking the stairs over the escalator, and walking or biking to nearby places rather than driving or using public transportation. These choices can also add fun to your daily routine, like brushing your teeth or washing the dishes while standing on one leg to work on balance.
10. 10. Run errands – This activity is typically overlooked when thinking about fitness. Staying active doesn’t always mean breaking a sweat or lifting heavy weights. Anything that gets your body moving and heart rate up is considered exercise, whether taking a trip to the grocery store, wandering around the mall, or exploring a museum. You can do many activities to stay active that don’t feel like typical exercise.

These are only some ways you can stay active while living in a senior living community, but the possibilities are endless. Consider adding some of these activities into your daily routine. Prioritizing your health with regular fitness now will equip you with benefits for years.   ___________________________________________________________________________

The Ormsby understands the benefits of staying active, so they will have an onsite pool and spa, fitness center, and Center for Healthy Living dedicated to helping their residents remain healthy and active. Learn more about what The Ormsby has to offer on their website or call 1-859-331-1490.