July 21, 2020 | Healthy lifestyles, Physical Activity
If you’re a senior staying isolated, then there is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of your daily life. With so much upheaval to your normal activities, it’s important to establish new routines to help you cope during these trying times. One way to do that is by creating good health habits while you shelter in place. Physical fitness is a great place to start as the benefits to body and mind are well documented. Here are three exercise ideas for seniors that you can do from home:
Strength Building Exercise Ideas for Seniors
- Wall Push-Ups – This is a great upper-body strength builder. Stand facing a wall about two feet away from it. Put your hands on the wall directly in front of you, about shoulder-width apart. Straighten your body as you lean into the wall, bending at your elbows and shoulders. When your face approaches the wall, push yourself back to starting position.
- Chair Squats – This exercise requires a chair and is intended to help you strengthen your lower body. Stand in front of the chair with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Pretend as if you are going to sit down in the chair. As you lower yourself into the sitting position, do so in a slow and controlled manner. When your backside touches the seat, stop yourself short of actually sitting and stand up. Repeat 8 to 12 times.
- Leg Raises – Use a stable chair for balance with this exercise. Stand next to the chair and hold the back with one hand for stability. Slowly lift your outside leg and move it out to the side, maintaining a straight line. Extend the leg as far as you can comfortably do so, then return the leg to the starting position. You can also do leg raises forward and backward. Just be sure to balance yourself appropriately before doing your lifts.
Before starting any exercise routine, it is recommended that you check with your healthcare provider. Windward Life Care is in the business of supporting seniors and their families to achieve the highest quality of life possible in every circumstance. Call on our team to learn more about establishing and following good health practices for seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.