These Simple Exercises Can Help Keep You Healthy

It’s easy to think of the beginning of the year as the only time to re-up your fitness goals. “New Year, New Me” is a catchy phrase. But in reality, it’s always a great time to improve and add to your fitness routine. The winter is one of our favorite times to reevaluate your fitness routine. The weather is a little bit chillier, and resting after your workout is just extra cozy.

Here at Park View Estates Memory Care and Transitional Assisted Living, we know the importance of moving your body, and we want to share some of our favorite ways. For this senior living community in Orange County, we recommend active movement coupled with daily stretches. See below for our top 4 favorite movements to add to your fitness routine!

Neck Stretches

Some of the simplest stretches can make the biggest impact. With years of sitting, many of us at a desk while working or years of driving back and forth to our children’s soccer practices or piano recitals meant hours of hunching our necks forward. Not only does this impact your posture, but it significantly impacts your mobility. Gentle, yet effective, a very easy neck stretch every day can help improve neck and head mobility.

To do this properly, slowly and carefully lower your chin to your chest and turn your head from left to right, holding for 15 seconds on each side. Be sure to listen to your body, and if you feel any pain or are holding your breath, stop the stretch and speak with your doctor or physical therapist to assess if this stretch is right for you.

Walk around the Block

Walking is a great form of exercise to get your heart rate up, blood pumping, and keep your muscles active. This is one of the easiest, most effective exercises to work into your daily routines, as well. A couple laps around the block, garden, or even up and down the hall is a great activity to ramp up your cardiovascular health.

Dance Your Cares Away

If walking is not your thing, try dancing! Whether standing or seated, grooving to the music is an easy way to keep a rhythmic pace for your cardio. Tap those feet with a simple two step, and pair it with a little cha-cha arm for a full body workout. If seated, sway your torso back and forth, arms up and down, and let your body feel the beat! Looking for some great seated dance moves? We love this instructional video found here!

Lift Weights

There’s often a lot of fear when it comes to lifting weights. Form is incredibly important, but it’s not as intimidating as you might think! Start out by learning the movements without the weights and practice your form. You can find some really fantastic exercises recommended by the CDC. Once you feel confident about your form, add in light weights. Even 1-2 lbs weights can be incredibly effective. Work with a trainer or your physical therapist to ensure your form is in tip-top shape, and to see what kind of weight you should be using.

Building a new fitness routine or improving your current one doesn’t have to be hard. Smart choices, consultations with professionals, and listening to your body are the best ways to implement a new routine!

If you are interested in learning more about Park View Estates or would like to schedule a tour, please give us a call! We’d love to help you have a healthy and happy retirement.

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