(NC)—Cold winter winds, dangerous icy patches on the sidewalk, and sometimes physical limitations can deter many seniors from being active during the winter months.
While skating, skiing or snowshoeing are exciting, they are also very taxing for many and can be dangerous for some. The good news is that there are many fun, effective indoor fitness programs that can keep seniors in top shape in 2009.
“Keeping fit in the winter months is essential to our health as we age,” says Rob Huppée, Vice President Fitness, Recreation and Nutrition Programs, Origin Retirement Communities. “By keeping your muscular strength and endurance levels up, you can reduce your risk for falls, and remain mobile and able to more easily transition into spring and summer outdoor activities.”
Strength training, aqua-fitness, tai-chi, modified yoga and even Nordic pole walking, are all activities that can be enjoyed indoors.
For those living in retirement communities, such as the new Origin Evergreen community in Mississauga, Ontario, other options can include dance classes, which are not only good for the body but also the mind. They offer an opportunity to socialize with others.
“Many seniors who live on their own tend to become ‘shut-ins’ during the winter months,” says Huppée. “The benefit of living in a retirement community such as Origin Evergreen is that you can join in on social fitness programs, or group trips to shopping malls for early morning indoor walking. This retirement community in Mississauga has over 42,000 square feet of amenities space, which means that you don’t need to leave the building and still enjoy several laps of walking.”
More information on Origin Evergreen’s senior fitness program is available at www.originevergreen.ca.