Get Going!
September 12, 2014
Fitness Coordinator Vivian Smith wants residents to get up, get out, & get going! Exercise is the key to healthy aging. With regular exercise, you can help boost your energy, reduce falls, manage symptoms of illness or pain, and maintain your independence. If you’ve never exercised before or strayed away from your routine, follow these tips to getting and staying active.
- Start slowly. Make gradual steps to building up to an exercise program. Start by walking for 10-minutes once or twice a day. When you feel ready, increase the time to 15 or 20 minutes.
- Commit yourself. Plan an exercise schedule. For at least 3 or 4 weeks, make exercise a habit in your daily routine.
- Set short-term goals. You stay motivated when you set goals that can be achieved daily and weekly.
- Enjoy your exercise. Choose activities that you enjoy doing (i.e., walking, tennis, dancing). You will be more inclined to keep it up.
- Reject “NO PAIN, NO GAIN.” Exercise shouldn’t hurt—challenging maybe, but you shouldn’t experience pain. Stop exercising immediately if you feel dizzy, are short of breath or feel pain.
- Have a well-rounded program. Improve your heart function, strengthen your total body, improve your flexibility and balance by adding variety to your routine.Buddy up. Exercising with a friend makes you accountable, gives you support, and keeps you motivated.
To learn more about this program offered at Vantage Point, contact Jennifer Jordan at [email protected] or by phone at 410-992-1241.