Fitness isn’t just about how fast you can run a mile. We believe enhancing fitness means centering more on general ability and maintaining it for as long as possible. A capable body and a sharp mind allow for an unmatched quality of life, so we take care to offer our residents a range of activities to bolster both physical and mental health during their stay.
The idea that falling into disrepair as we age is inevitable isn’t a helpful perspective to hold onto. The truth of the matter is that fitness is a lifelong journey. Read on to find out how seriously we take enhancing fitness in assisted living for seniors in Orange, TX!
Assisted Living Activities
Assisted living communities are full of people from all walks of life. Each person is as different from the next as it’s possible to be, but despite our differences, we all share a love of life and cherish our ability to make the most of it. With this in mind, it only makes sense to do what we can to continue enjoying ourselves for as long as possible.
To this end, we make sure to offer a broad range of stimulating and engaging activities to encourage physical and mental well-being. Participation in group activities is great fun, and doing so also helps to keep our bodies capable so we can continue to join in long into the future. We’ve chosen many of our Orange TX senior care activities with this philosophy in mind, so our residents exercise and think creatively without ever feeling like they’re doing tedious fitness drills.
Our most popular activities combine light exercise in a group-oriented atmosphere. We’ve put this article together to list some of the great activities our seniors have learned to look forward to.
Tai-Chi-Based Movements
Tai Chi is a sequence of movements and stretches that were originally intended as a martial art, but throughout the years has developed into an incredibly effective exercise routine. The original set of movements numbers around 108, and each one transitions seamlessly into the next.
Tai Chi is an ideal senior fitness program because there’s a real sense of progression and achievement in mastering each movement. New practitioners of Tai Chi begin without any knowledge of these movements whatsoever but quickly progress as their experience grows. Achieving competency in the movements taught requires mastery of each, and the memory to remember each in turn.
The movements are fluid and use our body’s full range of motion, including many movements that aren’t typically made on a day-to-day basis. Pushing our bodies gently into unfamiliar territory in this way helps to promote strength, balance, and flexibility all at once. It’s also a good laugh for many of our seniors who enjoy the learning process without taking themselves too seriously!
Dancing
When it comes to group activities that get the blood moving, dancing is a firm favorite. We provide our seniors with the space to dance, and they’re free to choose the music themselves. Light-hearted activities like dancing may seem like nothing but a good time, but they promote physical, mental, and social health like none other.
Our residents thrive on a sense of community spirit and social integration. Getting together a few nights a month for dance with friends is the perfect opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. Old age isn’t a barrier to enjoying life, after all, especially when you’re surrounded by friends and fancy enjoying a socially responsible drink or two.
Swimming
Many of our residents often welcome and look forward to the occasional outing to a local swimming pool. Swimming incorporates all the physical benefits of many other more strenuous methods of breaking a sweat while being gentle and low-impact. It’s a full-body workout to rival any on-land alternative and is a particularly enjoyable one to boot.
Water aerobics, in particular, is a perfect way to make the most of the pool and enjoy an outing with friends and acquaintances. Seniors all get in the pool and follow along with the movements of a trainer who stands and directs them. Everyone is expected to go at their own pace and to mimic the trainer as best they can.
The added resistance helps promote balance and general well-being while treading water increases stamina. Swimming is among the best options for seniors who are recovering from injury, too, and also for those who’re eager to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Chair Yoga
Not everyone has the ability to go swimming or learn Tai Chi, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be left out of exercise in assisted living. Chair yoga allows seniors who might not have the stamina to still enjoy a group session of exercise without putting themselves through any undue strain or pressure.
The idea behind chair yoga is to encourage a wide range of movements while remaining seated. These movements typically involve variations of arm and leg lifts, stretches, and holds. The addition of balls and other recreational items are also included to be thrown back and forth to improve eye-hand coordination. Just because our seniors are retired doesn’t mean they’re so old as to have lost interest in having fun!
Chair yoga is also the perfect choice for seniors who prefer not to leave their wheelchairs, allowing them to join in with everyone else without skipping a beat.
Enhancing Fitness in Assisted Living for Seniors in Orange, TX
Our philosophy regarding health and fitness is one of gentle, enthusiastic encouragement. We provide the opportunity, and our seniors do the rest. We’ve found over the years that seniors who join in and contribute to group-oriented activities flourish in assisted living and are rarely seen without a smile.
Enhancing fitness in assisted living for seniors in Orange, TX couldn’t be easier for us. The truth is that our seniors often have more energy than we do, and can’t wait for their next opportunity to get moving!
If you’d like to learn more about our community or discover some more great fitness tips for seniors, why not reach out today? We’d love to hear from you!
