Adding Movement To Your Healthy Habits This Year

So you want to start being more active, but you're afraid to learn something new or you have injuries that have sidelined you and you don't know what exercises would be best to get you back in the game. Well, here are 5 Top Picks for exercises that can be easily modified to meet your intensity needs and can yield positive results even by practicing the basic practice or moves.

1) WALKING - Walking is a great low-impact exercise for everyone, but especially people over 50. It can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Start with an easy pace and distance and then add speed and/or distance and/or elevation slowly and regularly. As your body gets stronger, up the challenge to build your stamina and take your strength to the next level.

2) SWIMMING - Swimming is a great full-body workout that is easy on the joints. It can improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility. Plus, it's a blast! Taking a water aerobics class can be both great for your health and fun for you soul. Grab a few friends to go with you and you may just have so much fun you forget your exercising. 🙂

3) YOGA - There are many different flavors of yoga (hatha, ashtanga, yin...) but generally, yoga is a gentle form of exercise that can improve flexibility, balance, and strength as well as help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. It's a form of movement that works on multiple levels of wellness and can yield big dividends in creating holistic wellness in your life.

4) STRENGTH TRAINING - As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength. Strength training exercises - such as using resistance bands or lifting weights - can help improve muscle strength, prevent age-related muscle loss, and strengthen bones.

5) CYCLING - Cycling is a low-impact exercise that can improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and joint mobility. It can also be a fun and social activity for all ages and stages of life.

Doing any or all of these exercises indoor or outdoors can be a great way of upping your fitness game this year. Find one (or more!) that you really enjoy and it will be that much easier to stick with your new healthy habit. Have fun!