Part of healthy senior living is engaging in regular exercise. In addition to helping you maintain your physical fitness, light workouts will minimize the risk of falls, release endorphins that boost your mood, and even improve your cognitive function. To reap these benefits without risking injury, here are a few ideas for some light exercises to try.

3 Safe Exercises for Senior Living

1. Strength Training

Strength training improves bone density and builds muscle. Start slow with wall pushups, which involve pushing the upper body away from a wall with your arms. For your lower body, try squatting and standing back up with your arms in front of you, or lifting your legs at 90 degrees one at a time.

2. Tai Chi

As a senior, you should avoid exercises that inflict stress on the bones and joints, such as running or jumping rope. For a low-impact and engaging exercise, try tai chi. This ancient Chinese practice involves slow, fluid movements combined with steady breathing—no quick jumps or strenuous maneuvers. Since the focus of this activity is to promote harmony between the mind and body, you’ll feel in control and relaxed following moves like the whip, which require you to use your arm and upper body like a whip.

3. Chair Yoga

For a less strenuous take on an ancient Indian practice, try chair yoga. After warming up by stretching your arms and legs, stand behind a chair, holding onto it for balance. Raise your feet one at a time behind you to strengthen your calf muscles and ankle joints. Extending one leg behind you into a slight lunge, raise your arms above your head to improve your balance. You can finish with the relaxation phase, called the Shavasana. For this pose, lie down and close your eyes, relaxing your limbs. As you inhale and exhale slowly, reflecting on the prior exercises, your heart rate will gradually decrease and you’ll feel relaxed.

Waynesboro Manor is a senior living facility proud to encourage their residents to stay active and socialize in the process. They cater to seniors in Augusta County, VA, and the entire Shenandoah Valley area, offering 24/7 care in a beautiful facility complete with gardens, nutritious dining, and free cable. Visit their website to learn more about their offerings, or call (540) 942-2250 to schedule a tour of their senior living center.