5 Fun & Engaging Ways to Stay Active in Your Golden Years

We know we’re healthiest when we move our bodies, socialize, and find hobbies that bring us joy. But it can be hard to know where to begin, especially for seniors beginning a new chapter in their lives. We’re here to help with five fun and easy ways to stay active in your golden years.

Gardening Groups

The benefits of gardening go far beyond those that might immediately come to mind.

Gardening is exercise! The various movements–digging, bending, lifting, reaching, and squatting–are excellent for seniors, improving both balance and coordination.

Tending to a garden is also a great way to get Vitamin D, which plays an important role in calcium absorption and maintaining bone health. Fifteen minutes in the garden–even on a cloudy day–will keep you on track.

Gardening also promotes better sleep. Being in a green space offers a winning combination of fresh air, physical exercise, and relaxation that is proven to foster a deeper, more restful sleep.

Flex your green thumb by finding a gardening club near you.

Fitness Classes for Seniors

Regular exercise is a cornerstone of staying healthy and strong. Many gyms, city recreation programs, and organizations such as the YMCA offer classes designed especially for seniors, and group exercise programs–gentle stretching, cardio, and strength training–are staples in today’s vibrant senior living communities.

An added bonus? Group fitness classes offer an easy and organic way to meet new people and build community–both of which boost our mental health.

Walking Groups

Walking is one of the easiest and most effective exercises. Whether you choose to walk solo and let your mind wander, or join (or start!) a local walking group, the benefits are the same. Walking is good for cardiovascular health, boosts energy and mood, and improves immunity.

“Walking is the only exercise you don’t have to be good at to enjoy.” – Mark Twain

Yoga for Seniors

Yoga is an excellent way to improve your flexibility and balance. Practicing yoga also builds core strength, reduces back pain, eases nerve pain and neuropathy, and so much more.

For seniors, beginner-friendly options like chair yoga offer a gentle approach accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability, and many local studios and retirement living communities offer yoga classes tailored to seniors.

For pointers on incorporating yoga into your lifestyle after fifty, read these tips.

Volunteer

Volunteering is an ideal way to give back to your community, stay active, and find meaning by sharing your life experiences and talents.

Not sure where to start? Peruse opportunities at Volunteer Match.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

The years after retirement can be some of the most active and joyful of our lives. The surest path to fulfillment is to try unfamiliar things, be open to being the ‘new kid on the block,’ and explore fresh communities.

Curious About Active Retirement Living?

Learn about Ivy Living’s Activity Program. Find a community near you!