Simple Ways to Stay Active Indoors
It’s no secret that physical activity is important for maintaining overall health, regardless of age. However, the weather can make it challenging to go outside for that daily walk.
The good news? Even if it’s still chilly outside, staying active indoors is much easier than you think. In fact, there are a number of simple, low-impact exercises you can do to keep up your strength, balance, flexibility, and get your heartrate up, and all you need is a chair and some light hand weights (soup cans work well, too!). Here are some easy ways to start exercising or to mix into your current routine. As always, be sure to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise routine, especially if you or a loved one have any underlying health conditions or concerns.
Curious about other low-impact, indoor-friendly activities that require minimal equipment? Say no more.
- Try yoga. Yoga is easy on the joints and helps stabilize your core. It also improves flexibility and balance. With chair yoga, you also get these same benefits.
- Keep it simple. Did you know doing chores and daily tasks count as exercise? Your cardiovascular health will thank you.
- If you’re able to get a walk in, even doing simple laps down the hallways at our Benchmark communities can be a great way to keep up your step counts without having to bundle up.
- Love music? How about dancing? Dancing has a number of cardiovascular benefits, helps improve balance, coordination, and it’s a fun way to stay social.
- Mix it up! At Benchmark, we offer seven different physical programs every week, so you can try a range of different classes and see what works for you.
We can’t say this enough, so we’ll say it again: always, always check with a healthcare provider before starting a new exercise routine. Feel free to run this list by them too! No matter how you decide to stay active, we’ll be here, cheering you on.
Sources: https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/160/AAP/easy-exercises-steps#home
https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/movement-exercise/20-chair-exercises-for-senior
