Fitness is for All Ages!

Written By: Jackie, General ManagerI don’t know how many times I hear ‘I am too old to start exercising!’ or ‘That isn’t for someone my age.’ We all know someone who has said this at one time or another…. Heck, we may have even said it ourselves!

However, fitness really is for everyone! It does not matter what age you are and what level of physical activity you have – by just starting something, you are moving towards a more active lifestyle!

The following is a list of common activities most enjoyed by various age groups:

KIDS
-Play tag
-Participate in sports
-Play on the playground
-Run, jump, and skip

TEENS
-Team sports at school or recreationally
-Ride bikes with friends
-Walk the dog
-Join a gym

ADULTS
-Join a gym
-Yoga
-Weight training
-Group sports
-Running/Walking/Riding bike

SENIORS
-Maintaining balance
-Water Aerobics
-Light weights
-Stretching
-Mobility Program at gym

Young kids get the most exercise by just being kids: running, playing tag, climbing, and doing a variety of activities. They have plenty of opportunities each day and should get at least one hour of good physical activity each day.

Teens are often found participating in sports, either as part of a school team or through a recreational program. Encouraging participation in physical activity is crucial in building great habits. This can also be in the form of riding bikes with their friends or a game of backyard football! Allow your teen to find and pick an activity that they will enjoy. Teens also need at least one hour of physical activity per day.

Adults can be a varied age range! In your 20’s your body is more resilient and stronger and a great time to develop exercise as a habit. Sports with friends, biking, hiking, walking, and running, are only some of the countless options available. A great routine to form is to do at least 30 minutes of exercise, at least 5 days a week. Muscle strengthening is also a great option as we know the older we get, the more muscles we are apt to lose.

Weight training is an important step in your 30’s as this is the time we start to lose muscle, so joining a gym with a great coach to help you lift weights properly is important. Be sure to include other activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, biking, or any activity that will get your heart rate up.

As we enter our 40’s, muscle mass declines and elasticity begin to form, slowing your metabolism. Hormone levels are often changing as well, which can lead to more weight gain. The common factor to fight some of these issues is exercise, including cardio, muscle strengthening, and low-impact activities. The key here is to develop a routine around various types of physical activity.

In our 50’s and 60’s we experience more aches and pains on a daily basis and this is where core strengthening, low-impact activities, stretching, lifting light weights, and balancing techniques will help in fall prevention. Seniors need to focus on strength, stretching, and flexibility, continue with walking, working on balance, and keeping muscles strong.

If you are looking to get started at a gym, no matter your age then reach out today to book a No Sweat Intro information session where we can chat about getting you started

The Coaches at Degree are ready to help you get started! Click HERE or email [email protected] to make that important first connection!