Spring welcomes warmer weather and longer, brighter days. It’s the perfect time to go outdoors and start getting active before summer arrives. Maintaining a regular fitness routine can be tricky for any number of reasons. You could just be busy, maybe you struggle with your mobility, or perhaps it’s been a while since you last did any real exercise and you’re struggling for confidence. Never fear, however! There of lots of easy ways to exercise that will boost your activity levels and help you lead a healthier lifestyle.
Here are seven easy ways to keep fit this spring:
1. Home exercise videos
Going to a gym can be daunting and some older people can occasionally feel intimidated by group exercise classes and other more common workout activities. Covid has also had an enormous effect on people’s confidence and health awareness, resulting in people wanting to exercise either outside or at home.
Fortunately, there are a huge variety of online online exercise videos for the elderly, which can be completed from the comfort of your own home, available to suit all fitness abilities! Everyone Active also has its own GP Referral programme which is ideal for helping older people get more active.
2. Gardening
Gardening is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy as you can expect to burn around 300 calories per hour during your gardening activities. This makes it a moderate-intensity exercise that will improve your cardiovascular health and help you shift unwanted weight.
Gardening also has an array of mental health and mood-boosting benefits as being outdoors has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors and get your garden ready for summer.
3. Walking
Walking – especially as the weather gets better in spring – is a great way to lead a more active lifestyle if you are new to exercise as it is low-impact and suitable for people of all fitness levels and abilities. The NHS states that walking can “build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.”
Walking is a simple and free form of exercise that everyone can do. You can start by walking to your local shop instead of driving or going for a quick walk around your neighbourhood at lunchtime. You can also join a local walking group if you would like to meet and socialise with like-minded people in your community.
4. Swimming
Swimming is an easy, low-impact exercise that will strengthen your muscles and give you a full-body workout. More than 120 Everyone Active centres feature swimming pools, the use of which is determined by the type of membership you go for. If, for example, you have a swimming or fitness membership with us then you’ll be able to use the pool on an almost unlimited basis, while we also offer a pay-as-you-go service.
You can also take part in water-based exercise classes like aqua aerobics if you are looking for a fun way to get fit. Swimming and other water-based activities are less likely to cause injuries than other forms of exercise as the water provides buoyancy and reduces stress on your joints.
5. Pilates
Pilates is one of the top wellness and fitness trends in the UK and more than 12 million people enjoy the benefits of Pilates. Pilates shares similarities with Yoga and focuses on improving core strength, posture, balance, and flexibility.
Pilates is suitable for people of all ages and classes can be modified to suit all fitness levels and abilities. If you want to try Pilates, many Everyone Active centres offer classes as part of their group exercise classes, while you’ll also be able to find Pilates classes on EA Series, which is available as part of Everyone On Demand – our digital fitness and wellness offering..
6. Racket sports
Racket sports like tennis and badminton can be played by people of all ages. They are ideal for older adults because they build both upper-body strength and lower-body strength and provide a full-body workout with minimal risk of injury.
You can enjoy some fresh air by playing tennis outdoors during the spring and summer months. Indoor courts are also available to play on if it’s raining or when the weather gets colder, or if they’re more appropriate to the sport, such as squash and badminton. If you want to start playing racket sports regularly, then you can many Everyone Active centres offer badminton, tennis and squash.
7. Dancing
Dancing is a fun way to boost your activity levels and improve your overall fitness. There are lots of beginner’s classes available as well as sessions tailored to older people or people with limited mobility. Some of the most popular dance classes include salsa, ballroom, ballet, and jazz. Joining a dance class can also be a great way to meet new people in your local area.
Spring is the perfect time to go outdoors and get in shape for summer. Simple changes to your lifestyle can have a big impact on your fitness and help you become a healthier version of yourself. Try some of these suggestions to boost your activity levels this spring.