We love working with older adults and sharing our love of fitness with an under-served demographic. Much of the marketing for gyms and fitness centres are geared to younger adults and therefore it is easy to see why some older adults end up asking ‘what’s the point?’ We want to encourage you to keep working at pursuing improvements in your fitness by talking about the benefits of being active. Perhaps, if you follow us already and participate in our programs, this post isn’t for you, but maybe you have a friend or family member that you’ve been trying to find the words to express what being active does for you – share this with them.
Control what you can.
Being active gives you a great chance at controlling what you can. For example, many people have prescribed medication for high blood pressure that may have undesirable side effects. Exercise is a great and natural way to help lower your blood pressure. Over time you may be able to reduce or eliminate the need for medication. (Keep in mind you should check with your Doctor first and consult them before beginning a new exercise program or discontinuing the use of any medications). You may not be able to stop or prevent every disease, sickness or injury, but by keeping in good shape you control what you can, and therefore you have a better chance of avoiding certain ailments, being less affected by them or having an improved recovery time.
Improve your quality of life.
Fitness isn’t only all about the physical, it’s also about your overall well-being. The concept of quality of life factors in not just your physical health but also your overall outlook on life. Maintaining good physical fitness can also improve your mental health and allows you to focus on your capabilities! Being strong and capable is very empowering and those who exercise regularly typically express experiencing a better quality of life than those who do not.
Assist in maintaining your independence.
Independence is something that many older adults strive to hold on to for as long as possible. Being able to cook, lift, walk and perform self-care activities independently are very important goals for many people. A properly designed fitness program can go a long way to ensuring that it is safe to keep doing these activities on your own.
That’s the point.
Are there topics you’d like to hear about? Do you have a personal story of how fitness has improved your quality of life? If you want to chat more about these ideas with one of our personal trainers and talk to us about how we can help you or your loved one on your fitness journey email us at info@activitiesinmotion.ca
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