We’ve all heard about the benefits of exercise – a healthier heart, stronger bones, improved appearance and flexibility – but exercise has many additional benefits, especially for seniors. As you grow older, an active lifestyle is more important than ever. Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body—it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory.
Even moderate physical activity can help to:
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Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous, it should be enjoyable so that you want to do it. A great form of low-impact activity is bicycling. Along with providing physical benefits, it also provides an alternative mode of transportation if driving is no longer an option, or just a way to mentally relax and take in the sights and sounds we often miss when riding in a car.
Seniors on Bikes is a group based in Boulder that encourages adults age 60 on up to ride for enjoyment. During the month of June during Boulder’s Walk & Bike Month, the group hosts weekly group rides on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. Learn more at www.walkandbikemonth.org.
It’s never too late to start exercising. According to the National Institute of Aging, exercise isn’t just for seniors in the younger age range. People who are 80, 90 or older can also benefit greatly from physical activity. The key is to find an activity you enjoy!