Are you doing the same exercises you did in high school gym classes or long-ago fitness classes?
Or maybe you’re not doing any exercise at all?
As we age, our bodies require regular physical activity more than ever.
If you’re not sure where to start, try these seven exercises below.
Squats (With your feet hip width apart and your arms extended forward zombie-like, shift some weight into your heels and then sink your hips down and back. Push your feet into the ground to stand back up. Keep your chest lifted and eyes up throughout.)
Biceps curls (Keep your upper arms tight to your sides as you lift dumbbells or cans of food up toward your shoulders and then lower them back down to your sides.)
Kegels (In a sitting or standing position, tighten your pelvic floor muscles for 3 to 5 seconds and then release then.)
Bird Dogs (On all fours, stretch one arm out long in front of you while drawing your abs in. Then extend your opposite leg long behind you. Hold 3 to 5 seconds, and then lower the arm and leg.)
Clamshells (Lie on your side with your knees and hips at 45 degrees and your hips stacked. Without shifting your hips and keeping your feet together, slowly open the top leg and then lower it.)
Brisk walking with some stair climbing
Balance (Stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer. While wearing shoes is challenging; in bare feet is extra-challenging.)
TIP: Give yourself some bonus points if you floss your teeth daily. Some research shows that good oral hygiene may help improve your overall health.
