Five Exercises to Help Retirees and Seniors Stay in Shape

Aaron Smith
If you a retiree chances are you are looking for ways to keep moving and get some exercise to stay as healthy as possible. If you a retiree and you aren't doing that, I highly suggest you reconsider and start putting your health first and stay active! The question then becomes, what kind of activities can you do to try to help you stay in shape? The good news is there are an increasing amount of exercise options available to retirees and those who are getting older, but want to keep feeling and looking young. Here is a look at five of the best exercises to help yourself stay in good shape.

Five Exercises for retirees to stay in shape

1. Ride a Bicycle- Riding a bicycle is a good activity because it is something that allows you to go at your own pace. If you don't want to go full speed ahead then there is absolutely no need to do so. It is also an activity that allows you to stop and take breaks easily if they are needed. Find a local bike path and take a little stroll several times a week and it will help you stay in shape quite nicely.

2. Go Swimming- Swimming is a terrific exercises for retirees and seniors. Swimming has all kinds of positives such as improved cardiovascular conditioning and a lessening of the tension in the muscles of the body. Swimming is extremely safe on the body, and it does a whole lot of good for your future years as well.

3. Aerobics- Aerobic exercises are terrific for retirees because they are helpful for the heart, increase your mobility, and allow you to reduce your stress level. Aerobic classes at the local fitness center or YMCA are always a good option, but if you would rather do something like this at home it is also possible to do so. Get an aerobics video and do the program a few times a week.

4. Golf- Sure golf isn't an activity where you will be running around like crazy, but you will certainly still be breaking a nice sweat and exercising more than you realize. Golfing 9 or 18 holes is an especially good workout if you walk the course rather than taking a golf cart.

5. Walking or jogging- These are the most basic exercises on the list, but they are great for you no matter what age you are. I encourage retirees to walk or jog often and have a treadmill in your home to allow you to exercise even when the weather isn't nice outside. Walking is an exercise that can be a good social event to, since it is easy to walk at the local mall with friends or even train to walk or jog in a 5k race or a marathon. It is a basic exercise, but it does a world of good.

If you are a retiree or a senior citizen who wants to stay in shape and cares a lot about your future health, consider taking part in some these exercises. Your body may hurt in the short-term, but in the long run you are doing a whole lot of good!

Published by Aaron Smith - Featured Contributor in Sports

I am a full-time freelance writer who specializes in writing about the world of sports as well as the financial industry. I write about a little bit of everything. My passion for all of these topics comes ou...  View profile

4 Comments

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  • Randy Inman6/15/2009

    Good advice. When my grandfather retired he refused to do anything but lay on the couch all day. He died about 3 years later.

  • Sheri Fresonke Harper4/22/2009

    Yes, so little time, so many things to do :) Sheri

  • Sheryl Young4/22/2009

    Tai chi is also a very relxaing, non-intensive aerobic workout.

  • Bobby Tall Horse4/21/2009

    I'm sure a lot of people are going to find these exercises very helpful!

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