A lot of people think that once they reach a certain age, that’s it in terms of exercise, it’s time to throw in the towel. It’s important to note, however, that with the right attitude and plan of action, it’s possible to carry fitness into later decades of life so that you can exercise at an age you never thought possible.
A new report from PBS takes a look at a trend toward making retirement communities more like college campuses than the standard retirement home. Among the amenities that residents of such communities have access to is exercise equipment. Just like you may have headed over to the student recreation center back when you were a senior in college, you now may have the opportunity to reap similar benefits from being a senior in a different sense of the word.
That same report offers some guidance to persons who want to get back into the swing of exercise later in life. If such a thing seems impossible, then those tips would be worth your time so that you can see how to come up with a valuable fitness regimen that can greatly improve your quality of life for years to come.
One of the most important things to remember is that you don’t want to work out to the point where you’re actually harming your body. This is something to remember at any age, but it’s particularly important when an individual makes a return to exercise later in life.
It’s best to work with a fitness coach and speak to a doctor prior to starting an exercise plan. A healthcare professional will be able to outline any problem areas and advise you on what the best exercises might consist of. A fitness coach or trainer can make sure you stick to those, helping you perfect your form and get the most out of the workout as you could possibly get.
This is important, as any workout that doesn’t take into account your unique circumstances may not be for you. If you have bad knees, for example, excessive running or certain lifts may exacerbate the damage that’s already there.
Stick to the plan that you and your physician have agreed to, and while you should be willing to tax your body during a workout, know that there’s a difference between being out of breath and a little sore and being in serious pain. If pain flares up, be willing to take a break, and build rest days into your workout as a whole. That way, you give your body time to recuperate from the stress you’re putting it through, something that becomes vital at an older age.
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