Who says that exercise is only for young people? But I personally think that those young at heart too will benefit  tremendously from working out.

Patricia Davis is 53 and she is still hot!

A general misconception made by many is that exercise is only for younger people. The importance of staying fit has become hyped so much of late that some people have come to see exercise with one goal in mind – to lose weight.

And it’s natural that younger people who are more conscious about their looks – have gotten into the exercising euphoria. Older folks have sedentary lifestyles and some too are faced with aching joints – which indirectly de-motivate them from exrcising.

In general, the traditional mindset is that sweating out should be left to the younger generation. Mature folk have little time and no interest to commit to a proper exercise regime – they will only see its importance once their health takes a dip for the worse.

Importance of exercise

Exercise is important as it can help lower cholesterol levels. This will help protect you from heart diseases. Regular workourt sessions, too, can help in maintaining a healthy body weight as sweating out can help combat the slowing down of the body’s metabolic rate.

As we age, we tend to feel lethargic by sitting around and not doing much. Working out regularly can help provide you with more energy and the stamina to get you going at any time of the day. During the prime years of our lives, staying fit is vital as it can also help in strengthening bones, muscles and joints which will help in mobility and balance. Hence, it’s not wise to cut off exercise just because of the after effects like pain, swelling and strains. In fact, exercise actually helps prevent pain and swelling from occuring.

Types of exercise and sports suitable for those in their 50s

• Yoga
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Qi-gong
• Taichi
• Walking
• Brisk walking
• Low impact aerobics

Swimming is a great deal of work out

Tips before starting on an exercising regime:

• An elderly person should go for a complete physicl and medical check up before engaging in an exercise program.
• Always start and go slow once in an exercise program.
• Stretching exercises help promote healthy muscle growth and also reduce the likelihood of losing one’s balance as we age
• Try to opt for resistance training once a week to improve heart and blood vessel health.

Enjoying the workout

Generally, people experience pain after exercise because they do not engage in warming up activities beforehand. A 15-minute warm up session can essentially curb cramps and pains after a sweating out session.

People over the age of 50 should not be over-zealous and should understand that their bodies are no longer the same as when they were younger. Choosing a sport that has minimum impact to certain body parts is a good way to prevent pain and injuries. Someone with knee pains should take up cycling and swimming to avoid putting pressure on the knee. This way, you not only get to workout, you also need not worry about any pains or injuries that might happen.

Selecting proper shoes with good inner soles and correct outer soles can make your workout session an enjoyable experience. Wrist guards, knee guards, wrist, elbow and ankle guards – there are a number of items in the market today to help you stay fit while keeping pain at bay.

Exercise , similar to education, is a long-term affair. Old or young , male or female, with or without grandchildren everyone can do it. With the extensive benefits that only exercise can offer, why not start today? It’s never too late to say YES to exercise!