If you’re over 60, or indeed any age, regular exercise is vital in maintaining your health and independence and ensuring you have the energy to do more of what you love. Not only does regular exercise help you maintain an active lifestyle, it can help to decrease the risk of serious conditions. Here at China Fleet, we have Senior Memberships including ‘Off-Peak’ when the club is a bit quieter.
Did you know, many adults aged 60 and over spend, on average, 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down, making them the most sedentary age group. As you get older, it becomes even more important to remain active if you want to stay healthy and maintain your independence. If you do not stay active, all the things you’ve always enjoyed doing may start to become that little bit harder.
Physical activity improves your strength, helps you stay independent, improves your balance, preventing falls, gives you more energy, prevents or delays diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis and relieves osteoarthritis pain.
As well as all of these fantastic physical benefits of regular exercise, did you know there are other benefits too?
An active body also makes for an active, sharp mind
The brain may benefit from exercise just as much as the body, according to fascinating new research. Physical activity can help keep the brain stay sharp and young.
Boosts Immunity
A 2018 study linked moderate exercise with a lower incidence of acute respiratory illness and fewer sick days off of work.
Improves Mood
Simply put, exercise makes us feel good. It can help ease anxiety and depression symptoms, increase relaxation, and create an overall sense of wellbeing. A 2019 study of adult men aged 65 and older found that the mood-boosting benefits of exercise continue well into old age.
Sustains social connections in retirement
Exercise, when performed in a social environment, not only keeps you accountable but is hugely rewarding. Many China Fleet members say the exercise classes here helped them restore the structure and socialisation they lost when they retired from their careers.
Post-Covid Lockdown isolations
The social isolation resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns meant many people did not go out or see anyone, often for days or weeks on end causing widespread loneliness. Experts say social isolation can have the same impact on an older person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
With all these incredible, life-changing benefits, it’s a surprise everybody isn’t rushing to the gym or an exercise class! But as the old saying goes, ‘the first step is always the hardest.’ But we’re a great bunch here, lots of friendly staff and members with a huge choice of exercise classes suitable for older ages including Aqua Aerobics, Flexibility and Non-Impact Aerobics, along with our Fit 4 Life and Game 4 Life sessions. Plus, in the gym, we have specially trained instructors on hand and there are members there of all ages…even me!
So make that first step, and prove that age is just a number!
See you next week and see you at the Club soon,
