In case you need a little incentive to start being more active (understanding that the perennial New Year’s re-set is long past), June 4th加拿大全民健康健身日，为你而来!
While good health and fitness are important for older adults every day of the year, in 2014 the federal government designated the first Sunday in June as the official day when all Canadians are encouraged to make Canada the “fittest nation on Earth.”*
National pride aside, Health Canada advises older adults get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity each week, in sessions of at least 10 minutes at a time. They also recommend adding bone and muscle-strengthening exercise twice a week,* especially useful forbalance and preventing falls.
The question for many seniors is how to spend those daily 20 minutes of exercise—without feeling like it’s a chore. The answer is easy—think of your daily dose as a fun activity, and get ready to reap the rewards offeeling better in body, mind, and spirit. Here are four activities to get you started:
Join a Tai Chi class
This ancient martial art is often described as “meditation in motion.” Its health benefits are numerous, and the best thing is that it can be adapted for almost any mobility level.* Join an online or in-person community class, or check yourretirement residence活动安排。
Have a ball
Early summer is the perfect time to toss a ball around. How about bocce ball* (or lawn bowling as it is also known), bowling, or one of the newest ball sports that is becoming wildly popular with seniors, pickleball.*
Dance the night (or afternoon) away
Put on your favourite music, invite your friends (or go solo), anddance your cares away. Dancing is a triple-hit of goodness for mind, body, and soul! Best of all, even if you’re heart rate is up and you’re breaking a sweat, it doesn’t feel like exercise.
Pedal in place
No longer comfortable riding a bike? Pedal exercisers that tuck under a desk can give you a low-impact workout in your living room.* Pedal with a friend to add to the fun, and set a distance goal for extra motivation.
Chartwell Retirement Residences offers a wide variety of engaging and safe fitness and dance opportunities through ourLiveNow life enrichment programming. Learn more atwww.familygivers.com.