Keeping active after 60
Health Agenda
Physical Health
Keeping active after 60
How to enjoy the benefits of exercise in your senior years.
Older adults should be active every day in as many ways as possible, the Queensland Government advises. A broad range of activities that incorporate endurance, strength, balance and flexibility provides the most benefits.
Aim for at least 30 minutes a day and remember you can break that down into 10-minute sessions if that suits you – and your fitness level – better. If you haven’t exercised for a while start at a level you can manage and gradually build up.
Endurance activities can include:
- walking, cycling or swimming
- dancing
- playing sport
- gardening.
Strength activities can include:
- working out with weights or resistance bands.
Balance activities can include:
- standing on one foot
- tai chi.
Flexibility activities can include:
- stretches
- yoga
- tai chi.
The positive effects of exercise range from reduced risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease and stroke to controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and weight, as well as improving your mood, giving you more energy, helping you relax and sleep better, and even the social factor of meeting up with other people.
A version of this article was first published on the Fit&Well blog in October 2015
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