Balance and strength are important to maintain throughout your life as they help with a wide range of activities, from performing your daily routine to playing a sport or doing an activity at a VRS seniors retirement community. If you or your senior loved one have started to notice that your strength and balance levels are slowly starting to slip, there are exercises you can perform to help rebuild and maintain them so you can live a more active lifestyle.
Here are 5 exercises for seniors to perform at a VRS seniors retirement community:
1. Walking heel to toe
This is an easy exercise you can begin with to help strengthen your legs as a warm up. You can perform it by putting your right foot in front of your left foot so that the heel of your right foot touches the top of the toes of your left foot. Move your left foot in front of your right, putting your weight on your heel. Then, shift your weight to your toes. Repeat this step with your left foot and walk this way for a minimum of 20 steps.
2. Single limb stance with arm
This balance exercise is great for improving physical coordination for seniors and can be performed indoors or outdoors at a VRS seniors retirement community. You begin by standing with your feet together and your arms at your side. Lift your right hand over your head and slowly raise your right foot off the floor. Hold that position for 10 seconds and repeat the same action on the left side.
3. Shoulder rolls
Your shoulders may get stiff from sitting still for longer periods of time so it’s great for seniors to exercise them from time to time. This exercise can be done either seated or standing based on your preference. You simply rotate your shoulders gently up to the ceiling, then back and down. Next, you do the same thing but roll your shoulders forward and then down.
4. Toe lifts
Strength in your legs is important to maintain and improve balance, and all this exercise needs is a chair or a counter you can lean on. Begin by standing straight and putting your arms in front of you on the chair or counter. Raise yourself up on your toes as high as you can go and slowly lower yourself. Remember to not lean too far forward on the chair or counter and repeat this exercise at least 20 times.
5. The balancing wand
Another great balancing exercise for seniors to perform indoors at a seniors retirement community is this seated exercise which only requires a cane or a broomstick (without the head). You hold the bottom of the stick so that it’s flat on the palm of your hand. The goal of this exercise is to keep the stick upright for as long as you possibly can. Change hands after you’re happy with the result from one hand so both sides of your body improve balance.
If you’re looking for a seniors retirement community that offers a variety of recreational activities, VRS Seniors Retirement Communities are here for you. Call 604-731-1020 to book a tour at VRS’s warm and friendly independent seniors community.