As we get older exercise becomes that little bit more challenging. The problem is if we avoid exercise altogether, our physical and mental health will decline. No matter what age you are, it’s important to maintain some form of regular exercise. The type of exercise that you do will largely depend on your ability and level. If you’re an older adult looking to improve your fitness, take a look at this great selection of apps and fitness tips.
Fitness Apps For Older Adults
- Silver Sneakers App
The SilverSneakers app is a top fitness app, suitable for all but aimed at seniors. The application offers a 4-12 week program, with plenty of home work out sessions and nearby classes. For older adults looking to improve their exercise regime, Silver Sneakers is just what you need. Using the app, you can book fitness classes, schedule activities, rate your experiences and track your progress. Keeping a log of your exercises is helpful to set yourself goals and see which fitness areas you still need to work on.
Whether you’re looking to improve posture or build strength, setting fitness goals is useful to stay on track. Before you get started, it can be useful to consider which goals are most important to you. Goal setting can also help you to choose the right exercise regimes.
- Ta Chi For Seniors
Tai Chi has plenty of amazing benefits for the body and mind. It’s an excellent way to build muscle strength and improve balance. Tai Chi is also the perfect activity to relax the nervous system and to improve flexibility. Tai Chi helps to improve proprioception, (which refers to awareness and perception of the position of the body). Proprioception is believed to decline with age, which is why Tai Chi is often praised as a great exercise activity for seniors. The app consists of 64 great Ta Chi videos from Tai Chi expert Dejun Xue. These videos are easy to follow, engaging, and you’ll learn so much after just a few sessions.
- Daily Yoga
Yoga is an excellent activity for seniors, and with the Daily Yoga app, older adults can practice from the comfort of their own home. The application includes 200+ guided classes including asanas, meditation, pilates and yoga. Users can keep up a daily yoga routine helping to improve their mental health, flexibility, posture and strength. One of the great things about the app is that it caters to a variety of different levels, so users can choose a class based on their ability. Once you’ve mastered the basics you’re free to work up to a more advanced level. There are one-hour sessions for when you’ve got time to spare, or quick 10 minute sessions if you’re pushed for time. Hatha yoga is the best style for beginners. It’s slow and gentle, focusing on relaxing breathing techniques.
- MapMyWalk
For those who love a good walk, MapMyWalk is just what you need to plan your routes and make progress. From the creators of MyFitnessPal, this application helps you to plan your walk and track your distance and speed. You can also track the duration of your walk, the elevation and the steps. One of the best things about the app is that you can check which walk routes your friends have mapped out, and discover new walking destinations around your local area. Walking is a great way to boost your endorphin levels and explore the great outdoors.
- 7 Minute Workout
Sometimes committing to a long work-out session isn’t realistic. Perhaps you get worn out easily and lack the stamina? If so, 7-minute workouts is a great application to keep you active. Every exercise on the app can be done easily at home, with no equipment needed whatsoever. The workout uses high-intensity circuit training, helping users to improve their aerobic fitness and strength. No need to worry if you’re pushed for time, the 7-minute workout is easy to squeeze in!
- Pilates Anytime
Pilates Anytime is one of the best apps for pilates out there. Here you get unlimited access to over 3,000 pilates workouts which you can practice anyplace anytime. Pilates Anytime features guided instruction from hundreds of the best Pilates teachers from across the world. With the app, you can customize your sessions to suit any particular need, equipment, level or duration. Pilates is a fantastic exercise to improve joint mobility, balance, posture and muscle tone. Pilates focuses on building core strength, which is helpful to prevent your body from obtaining an injury.
- Endomondo
Endomondo is a fantastic personal training and fitness tracking app, designed for people of all ages and levels. With Endomondo, you can monitor your workouts with GPS, set goals, check your stats, and join a global fitness community. Using Endomondo, you can track your walking, cycling, running, or other activities. You can also set your calories, speed and time. Users will receive audio feedback and can log their workouts to stay on track. Once you get started and see your progress, it becomes pretty addictive! Before you know it, you’ll be in the best shape of your life. Whether you’re starting a fitness routine as a beginner or you’ve been exercising for a while Endomondo can help you to smash your goals!
- Flip50
The Flip50 app is a healthy lifestyle app aimed at those who are 50 and over. Here you’ll find simple fitness and food plans which are catered to your needs. Using Flip50, you can access up to 10,000 gyms and classes. You can also gain expert tips and learn about all the best fitness activities that you can do at home. Perhaps you’ve been looking to improve your fitness for a while, but you aren’t sure where to start? In this case, Flip50 is undoubtedly the app that you need.
Fitness Tips For Older Adults
- Try swimming
Swimming is one of the best exercise activities for older adults. It’s low impact and gentle, yet you’ll still get a full-body workout. There are so many benefits of swimming, including improving your cardiovascular health, toning your muscles, and releasing stress. When you swim, you can get your cardio fix and increase your heart rate without putting any pressure on your joints. If you don’t fancy lane swimming, an aqua aerobics class can be great fun. One of the best things about swimming is that it’s also therapeutic. To relax and improve your well-being, swimming is the way to go.
- Gentle hiking
Gentle hiking is the perfect exercise activity to experience the outdoors and get your heart rate pumping. As well as getting a nice bit of exercise, you’ll get the chance to explore all the best natural beauty spots in your area and beyond. Before you go hiking, make sure you get yourself a good pair of walking boots. When you’re walking for longer periods on rough terrain, you’ll need the right shoes to support your feet and legs. It’s best to stick to flat terrain to keep yourself safe.
- Take it slow
As we get older, our fitness levels aren’t what they once were. This is perfectly normal, and it doesn’t mean you can get a good amount of exercise. The important thing is to take any activity slowly, do not attempt any exercise that feels too far out of your comfort zone. When attending a class inform your instructor of any injuries or ailments, this will help them to support you throughout.
- An exercise buddy
Perhaps you’ve become wearier of exercise as you’ve got older? Maybe you’re unsure of your physical limits and worried about obtaining an injury? In this case, it can be helpful to have an exercise buddy, whether a friend or a family member. When you’ve got someone else to exercise with you’ll feel more at ease (plus it’s lots more fun)!
- Consider personal trainer
Perhaps your fitness levels have declined, and you’re looking to improve them? In this case, a personal trainer might be able to help. A personal trainer will provide a fitness regime to suit your level and goals. Depending on your level of fitness, you may not feel that a trainer is a good investment; it all depends on your current needs.
- Further support
As you get older, it can become challenging to perform the basic tasks you once did. If things become overwhelming, it could be worth looking into in-home care for seniors. Seniors Helping Seniors is an excellent service, providing older adults with carers of a similar age to them. With a service like this, you’ll feel like you’re getting help from a friend. When you’re tackling your daily tasks from exercising to cooking, it can be helpful to have a little extra support.
Remember, health and safety come first when you are exercising. It’s essential to wear appropriate clothing and shoes, stretch properly, and stay hydrated. For further advice, try books such as ‘A Super Home Exercise Book for Seniors.’ Here you’ll find plenty of amazing tips and tricks for exercising as an older adult.
