Autumn is here! And in California, the beauty of the scenery is one deserving of deep appreciation. So, for this post, we at Infinite Love Homecare compiled a list of exercises that seniors can do during the autumn. These exercises have the elderly’s health in mind and the beauty of richly-colored trees of nature. These exercises will take you outdoors so you can enjoy being in good health both physically and mentally.
Let’s begin!
Benefits of Exposure to Nature’s Beauty
Let’s first examine the importance of being out and about in nature.
The American Psychology Association says that exposure to nature has a lot of attractive benefits. The benefits include:
- Better mood.
- Improved attention span.
- Lower stress.
- Higher levels of empathy and cooperation.
- Reduced risk of psychiatric disorders.
Study after study lets scientists compile the ever-growing list of the benefits of being outdoors and taking in the environment’s natural beauty. And the autumn season offers one of the best views of the year.
Exposure to Beautiful Environment Improves Mental Health
The same article from the American Psychology Association continues, “Spending time in nature can act as a balm for our busy brains.” In other words, interacting with nature has cognitive benefits. The article points out that greenery near schools fosters cognitive development. Additionally, green views near the home promote self-control behaviors among children.
But the benefits are not limited to children. Adults, aging or not, have better attentional functioning when they have better access to natural environments. Natural environments improve working memory, attention control, and cognitive flexibility. On the other hand, exposure to only urban environments results in attention and memory deficits.
Exercise Ideas
Seniors can do several exercises during the fall. But since our focus involves taking in the beauty of autumn, the activities we will recommend here are done outdoors.
Walking
Walking is the most straightforward exercise on this list. But it is by no means the least beneficial, especially for seniors. So here are the benefits of walking.
Walking is a cardio type of exercise. Cardio exercises stimulate more robust breathing than when at rest. There are many benefits to cardio exercises.
Healthier Heart
The most crucial benefit of cardio exercises is that they foster a stronger heart. Cardio is just short for cardiovascular, which means anything related to the heart and the blood vessels. Cardio exercises strengthen the core.
Stronger Heart and Diaphragm
Another benefit of cardio is that it also strengthens the lungs and diaphragm, responsible for breathing and airflow. When you do cardio exercises, you need to breathe more and provide the body with the energy it needs. Getting your body accustomed to living more effectively through cardio exercises will lead to better lung health in the long run.
Weight Loss
Although weight loss is not as much of an issue to seniors as self-conscious teenagers or adults, it is still a benefit seniors should desire. After all, weight loss is not just about how you look, but also how you feel and how healthy you are. Cardio exercises are some of the most popular weight loss exercises.
By simply walking briskly for 30 minutes every day, you will burn 150 calories. But, of course, the quicker the pace and the longer you walk, the more calories and fat you will burn.
The most popular cardio exercise is running. But running is quite an ineffective cardio exercise for a lot of senior citizens. Running also damages the cartilage around the knees, which is terrible for a lot of the elderly. Walking is, by far, the better choice. If you want to make the exercise more strenuous, walk more briskly.
Cycling
Did you know that cycling is perfectly safe for seniors? We’re speaking of seniors who still have the capability for a slow bike ride, of course, not those who have impairments that prevent them from otherwise enjoying a bike ride.
A survey proves that almost a third of new bicycle riders in the United States are seniors. And in biking events, about 31% of registrants and participants are seniors aged over 55 years old. In the Netherlands, where cycling is a way of life, 17% of riders are over 65 years old.
Granted, not every single senior citizen can or should ride a bike. But the same is true of any age group. But no one can dispute the fact that cycling as a senior is safe and healthy.
Here are a few benefits of cycling as a senior.
Low-Impact and Low-Stress
Cycling does not cause bones in the joints to collide with each other, unlike running, jogging, or, to a lesser degree, walking. When you are cycling, the body moves in smooth and continuous motions. There are no sudden movements, no soft or hard impacts, and therefore, no undue pressure on the body.
Exercises like running or jogging are high-impact workouts. And over time, they will damage different parts of the body. Most notably, they will damage the cartilage around the knees. Cycling does not do that.
Cardio
Cycling is another cardio exercise. You will get all the benefits of walking when you regularly cycle. Healthier hearts, lungs, and losing weight will be part of the deal.
Improves Memory
Cycling requires the body to work at maximum capacity, both physically and mentally. It is because there are a lot of inputs the brain has to process. Plus, the rich oxygen your body is forced to take in revitalizes the brain. Simply put, cycling improves brain function, specifically memory.
So, if you want to stave off memory-related diseases, or improve your memory, cycling is an excellent exercise to include in your fitness regime.
Take the First Step… Outside
Autumn is a beautiful season. Enjoy the view while getting your physical body in top condition! Physical exercise while taking in the scenic beauty of autumn will double the benefits of the activity. The exercise improves the body, mainly, and the view helps improve the mind. Walking and cycling are two of the most enjoyable and low-stress exercises that seniors can do outdoors.
So, take the first step outside. Take a walk. Ride a bike. And enjoy the view.
Companions Increase the Joy
Exercising is a lot more fun if you have companions. Good for you, seniors, because Infinite Love Homecare offers supervision and companionship services. We offer personal and Daily Care services, including personal grooming, transportation assistance, light housekeeping, and meal preparation.
Reach out to Infinite Love Homecare to know how best we can serve the seniors around Orange County, California. You can call us at (949)-529-4130 or visit our office at City Tower, 333 City Blvd W Suite, 1700, Orange, CA 92868, United States.
