Are you battling loneliness in your advanced age? Studies from Michigan Medicine show that a third of all seniors aged 50 to 80 feel lonely, isolated, or otherwise desolate. One of the best ways to counter this horrible feeling is with exercise groups for seniors in South Carolina, which help you stay motivated, encouraged, and active.
South Carolina is a premier state to spend your golden years, and few cities are as desirable as Anderson. We've earned our nickname as the Friendliest City in South Carolina, giving you a strong sense of community and belonging. Whether you're here for our bustling historic downtown or to relax by Lake Hartwell, the Electric City is perfect for you.
How can exercise groups for seniors keep you active, social, and healthy? Read on for a brief overview of this crucial subject.
One of the premier issues that seniors face is loneliness and isolation. Assisted living communities are the perfect way to fight against these natural feelings.
When we exercise in a group, we're encouraged and motivated by our peers. According to Iowa State University, group exercise may even be better for you than your solo workouts. The social support from a group reinforces you both physically and emotionally.
That isn't to say that your body somehow gets double the workout the more people are around you. Instead, you're more likely to stick with your workout, work out harder, and do so more frequently when it's a social event.
Here at TerraBella Marchbanks, we're always setting up a social event for you and your peers. Browse our activities and events to see what's coming up!
When it comes to exercise groups for seniors, the most common type of workout is aerobic exercise. According to the Cleveland Clinic, aerobic exercise is best for using large muscle groups in repetitive motions.
Aerobic focuses more on continuous, rhythmic movements instead of high-impact weight lifting. It's mostly done in place, but will include exercises like:
Aerobic exercise is also ideal when it comes to low-impact senior workouts. It becomes harder for us to perform high-impact workouts as we age due to the toll it takes on our bones and joints.
Instead, aerobic exercise is usually done using only your own body weight or simple movements. These include fluid, steady movements, squats, and other such exercises.
Since aerobic exercise so perfectly fits seniors, you'll frequently find aerobic exercise classes. Here are some of the most common exercise classes for seniors.
Strength training is a style of exercise that, as you may suspect, focuses on building your physical strength. These are ideal for keeping your balance, stability, and strength as you age. However, they are also sometimes dangerous due to the added strain.
Seniors will often do strength training in groups for added security and motivation. Common exercises include:
It's also common to use resistance bands. Resistance bands are large elastic bands of varying strength that provide resistance as you lift them. Think of a giant hair tie or rubber band!
Yoga is a style of meditative workout that focuses on getting your body into a position and holding it. Yoga is great for balance, stability, and flexibility, especially as we age. It also has the benefit of being exceptionally safe and low-risk.
Chair yoga is the same style of workout, but -- you guessed it -- done with a chair! Having a chair provides you with something to hold onto and keep yourself steady as you adjust to positions. It's also easier for seniors with mobility limitations who struggle to comfortably lower and raise from the floor.
Similar to Yoga, Tai Chi is a style of meditative workout that uses fluid, steady movements to help improve your balance. While Yoga is stationary, Tai Chi involves keeping your body moving, albeit slowly.
Tai Chi is perfect for building your balance as well as reducing stress. It's also ideal for people with mobility limitations, as it's exceptionally easy for your class to customize the movements. Many assisted living communities will have Tai Chi classes for stress reduction and balance training.
Still looking to learn more about exercise groups for seniors? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding these exercises.
According to the CDC, seniors should have at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every week. Two and a half hours doesn't sound like much, and if you're in classes, you'll likely exceed this amount!
However, be sure not to overdo it. Your body needs rest, and you'll actually worsen your fitness if you try to push past your limits. There are no overachievers in personal fitness!
As with all things, aerobic exercise requires time, commitment, and practice. You'll likely struggle at first, and this is something you should accept and expect.
Continue your workouts and keep attending your classes. As your fitness improves, so too will your performance. Before you know it, even the hardest exercise will be easy.
You can, but you'll miss out on the socializing aspect of exercise groups for seniors. Consider what friendly amenities your community has to help you make up for this lost socialization.
Exercise groups for seniors are the perfect way to blend fitness and socialization. Understand your limits and look for classes that you can see yourself growing with. Focus not just on your physical fitness, but your mental and social health as well.
At TerraBella Marchbanks, we understand that retirement is a new beginning. Our community is proud to offer daily recreation, live performances and entertainment, senior-centric fitness and health classes, and everything else you need to shine. Contact us today to see how we can help you make the most of your golden years!