As we get older, staying active is essential for our mental and physical health. Exercising as a senior can provide plenty of benefits, such as:

• Higher metabolism (which naturally slows with age)
• Lower risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease
• Healthy digestive and immune systems
• Better mobility and balance
• Reduced symptoms from depression and/or anxiety

A great way to get active while making friends and connecting with your community is by attending a group fitness class through your local gym (either online or socially distanced in person). If you’re looking for senior-friendly group fitness classes, we have a list of eight workouts you’ll love!

**Note: Please make sure your doctor clears you for physical activity before joining a group fitness class.**

1. Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Foundation is an aquatics class involving gentle activities in warm water, with guidance from a trained instructor. Water workouts are wonderful if you have arthritis, because you can enjoy low-impact exercise without straining your joints and muscles. You might even find that Arthritis Foundation eases your pain and stiffness!

2. Chair Yoga

Looking for a relaxing way to start or end your day? A 30-minute chair yoga class might help you increase your range, mobility, and flexibility in a short amount of time. Your instructor will guide you through traditional yoga poses as you use a chair for seated and/or standing support. After a chair yoga class, you’ll be more likely to breathe easier, feel more relaxed, and sleep better!

3. Fit 4 Life

Fit 4 Life can help you keep your energy up while giving you the chance to connect with other seniors in your community. This class has plenty of benefits you might enjoy, such as: 

• Improving your range of motion 
• Increasing muscle strength
• Keeping you active and independent 
• Building your sense of community

4. Fountain of Youth

Join us in the shallow end of the pool for Fountain of Youth! This class features water exercises to get your body moving and your heart pumping. You’ll participate in activities focused on cardio and muscle toning, helping you feel young and strong for years to come.

5. Senior Barre

Senior Barre is another wonderful option for anyone 55 and older! This class incorporates resistance bands, hand weights, and other equipment for a full-body, low-impact workout. You can get stronger, improve stability, and gain flexibility as you work out with your Senior Barre community.

6. Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneakers is a senior-friendly group fitness class full of music, movement, and fun! You can adjust this workout to meet your needs with hand weights, exercise balls, chairs (for balance and seating), and more.

You can experience plenty of benefits with Silver Sneakers, including: 

• Better range of motion
• More muscle strength 
• Safe activity and exercise
• Independence

7. Silver Sneakers Muscle

Silver Sneakers Muscle is a 30- to 45-minute class that builds on the original Silver Sneakers program with sports-inspired exercises. You can increase your strength by focusing on different muscle groups in time blocks your instructor will guide you through. You may also use a chair for seated and/or standing support — and you can still get a great workout!

8. Zumba Gold

If you’re looking for a great calorie burn with lower-intensity exercises, Zumba Gold is perfect for you! This senior-friendly group fitness class modifies the original moves and choreography from Zumba so that anyone age 55+ can enjoy a safe, healthy workout. 

Zumba Gold’s benefits may include:

• Increasing your range of motion
• Improving balance coordination
• Building strength and flexibility
• Boosting confidence and energy

Staying active as you get older can help you fight disease, improve your balance, and feel better physically and mentally. And with these senior-friendly group fitness classes, you’ll actually have fun while exercising!

Whether you’re a group fitness regular looking for a new challenge, or you’re ready to dive into a regular workout rhythm, your clean, safe local gym is a great place to start.

The Lafayette Family YMCA is a community dedicated to healthy living and social responsibility. For more fitness tips and to stay up to date about YMCA events, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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We’ve rounded up the best five aquatics classes for seniors. These will help you tone muscle, soothe sore joints, and more.

1. Aqua Squad

Aqua Squad is a low-intensity water workout built around stretching and gentle movement. In this class, you’ll get your heart rate up while setting goals for muscle strengthening and growth.

2. Aquaerobics (Mid-day Waves)

Aquaerobics develops muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance for members of all ages. Take a break in your day to join us for water exercise and fun!

3. Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Foundation was co-developed by the Arthritis Foundation and the YMCA. The class involves gentle activities in warm water, with guidance from a trained instructor.

Water workouts are great for those with arthritis because you can exercise without straining your joints and muscles. In fact, you may find that this class eases your pain and stiffness!

4. Fountain of Youth

Fountain of Youth provides exercises to get your body moving and your heart pumping. Members ages 55 and older are welcome to participate in activities focused on cardio and muscle toning.

5. Morning Water Workouts

Morning Water Workouts develop muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance for all ages. Start out your day with the YMCA water exercise instructors and join us for the fun!

We can’t wait to see you in the pool! These aquatics classes for seniors will help you stay in shape while making new friends and having fun. 

And if you prefer on-land exercise, we have several options for older adults, such as:

• Chair Yoga
• Fit 4 Life 
• Senior Barre
• Silver Sneakers

The Lafayette Family YMCA is a community dedicated to healthy living and social responsibility. For more fitness tips and to stay up to date about YMCA events, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, or visit our website here.

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Regular exercise a few times a week is essential for seniors to stay healthy and keep moving. There are lots of benefits that accompany daily exercise for older adults, including an increased metabolism, more control over weight, reduced impact of illnesses and chronic diseases, and enhanced mobility and overall strength.

Daily exercise can even improve your memory and cognition, helping you maintain independence as you get older. It’s never too late to try new things and incorporate exercise into your daily routine. It might be more fun than you think — and open you up to new opportunities that you didn’t have before!

How much exercise should a senior get?

The CDC recommends that adults over the age of 65 get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, and two or more days devoted to strength training each week.

There’s no set rhyme or rhythm to what you can do to fulfill these health goals. Aerobic exercises are activities that increase your heart rate and get your blood pumping. Moderate aerobic exercise might include walking for one hour, while vigorous aerobic exercise might mean jogging for 30 minutes.

Weight training doesn’t only mean lifting dumbbells at the gym—although that would work, too! Weight training includes anything that involves resistance, such as situps and pushups, working with resistance bands, or holding yoga poses.

There are tons of options available to you that can fulfill these weekly exercise quotas. It all depends on your own level of health and fitness. Here are five ways seniors can stay fit!

1. Walking or Hiking

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a consistent workout schedule, walking can be a great way to get your body used to physical activity again. Taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood, or exploring a local hiking trail, can be a fun way to leave the house and get your body moving. This aerobic exercise in particular is great for improving heart and lung health, and walking can help clear a cluttered mind.

Walking and hiking are workouts that are fun to do with others. Grab your spouse or a close friend, and spend some quality time together while getting in your cardio for the week!   

2. Gardening

Gardening is an extremely rewarding way for seniors to stay fit that can quickly become a loved hobby. Spending time in the yard is a great way to get some fresh air while being active, and fresh fruits and vegetables are a healthy addition to any meal. Heavy digging, shoveling, and moving objects can even help fulfill strength training goals!

If you have bad joints, and the idea of kneeling down seems too difficult, try starting with raised garden beds and potted plants. This way, you can still reap the health benefits of gardening without hurting your knees or other joints.

3. Water Aerobics or Swimming

Swimming and water aerobics are a wonderful way to increase your heart rate and work your muscles without fear of injury. The water makes exercise easier on your joints, and the added resistance works all major muscles groups, focusing on core strength.

Joining a water aerobics class can help you stay motivated during your workouts and can contribute toward both cardio and strength training goals for the week. Integrating swimming and water exercises into your routine can also help increase bone density, which reduces your risk of developing osteoporosis.

4. Dancing

Dancing is a fun way for seniors to stay fit! Not only does dancing increase your heart rate; it also improves balance and coordination. According to a study conducted by the NCBI, regular dancing helped senior adults increase strength, mobility, balance, flexibility, and quality of life. It also helped decrease their risk of falls due to the increased motor skills they gained as a result of dancing.

Enrolling in a dance class with a partner, such as tango or ballroom, can be a great date-night idea that you both benefit from! Or, try joining a Zumba class with some friends for a more upbeat, fast-paced workout.

5. Yoga

Yoga is an excellent strength training workout that leaves you feeling refreshed and relaxed! Similar to dancing, yoga works to increase coordination, balance, and stability. Added benefits include improved flexibility and joint health, enhanced respiration, and lowered blood pressure.

Committing to a regular yoga class will strengthen and tone your muscles, while restoring balance and flexibility to your joints. Find peace of mind while getting in a workout!

As a senior adult, you don’t have to let your age limit the things your body can do. It’s never too late to keep trying new things, and a steady routine of healthy eating and exercise will help you achieve your goals. You only get old when you stop, so don’t slow down now!

With two locations in Lafayette, Indiana, the Lafayette Family YMCA is a community committed to healthy living and social responsibility. For more fitness tips and to stay up to date about YMCA events, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, or visit our website.

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